Summary:
Zip code 37405 in Chattanooga, Tennessee is home to two elementary schools serving grades PK-5 (and PK-8 for one school), with a combined enrollment of roughly 1,493 students across Normal Park Museum Magnet School and Red Bank Elementary School, both part of Hamilton County Schools.
The standout school here is Normal Park Museum Magnet, a highly ranked PK-8 magnet school with a 4-star rating and an 88th percentile statewide ranking. It dramatically outperforms Red Bank Elementary in every subject measured. For example, math proficiency is 55.7% at Normal Park versus 29.2% at Red Bank, and English language arts proficiency is 58.7% versus 32.1%. Normal Park also exceeds district and state averages by wide margins. In contrast, Red Bank holds a 1-star rating and sits in the 26th percentile statewide. One of the most striking differences is chronic absenteeism: Normal Park’s rate is just 5.2%, while Red Bank’s is 16.3%. Notably, Red Bank actually spends more per student ($18,050) than Normal Park ($16,394), yet its academic outcomes are far lower—a reminder that spending alone doesn’t determine success.
For parents, the choice between these two schools is significant. Normal Park offers consistently excellent results across grades and subjects, though it does show a middle-grade slump in math and ELA after strong elementary performance. Its social studies scores are outstanding, especially 7th grade at 78.2% proficiency. Red Bank shows a promising upward trend in math from 3rd to 5th grade (16.5% to 41.0%), but ELA stays flat and science declines. The missing data on free/reduced lunch and student-teacher ratios limits a fuller comparison, but the current picture is clear: Normal Park is a top-tier option, while Red Bank faces major challenges despite higher spending. Parents seeking a high-performing, well-attended school will find a clear leader in Normal Park.
Thank you for your feedback!