Best Public Schools in Zip Code 37407

ZIP code 37407 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is served by three schools in the Hamilton County Schools district, enrolling a total of 1,878 students across elementary and middle grades, with no high school available within the ZIP code. The district itself ranks 81st out of 141 districts in Tennessee, placing it slightly below the state midpoint, but the three local schools rank in the bottom 8–22 percent of all Tennessee schools, indicating they lag well behind both district and state averages.

Among the three schools, East Lake Elementary School stands out as the strongest academic performer, with the highest math proficiency (38.4%) and ELA proficiency (21.9%) in the ZIP code, alongside an exceptional chronic absenteeism rate of just 7.5%—less than half the district and state averages. Clifton Hills Elementary School also posts strong attendance (8.4%) but weaker academics, with math proficiency at 28.9% and ELA at just 15.2%. In contrast, East Lake Academy of Fine Arts is the most concerning profile: despite spending the most per student ($21,576), it has the lowest proficiency rates (16.2% math, 8.5% ELA) and a chronic absenteeism rate of 17.5%, more than double that of the elementary schools.

All three schools received a 1-star state rating, and every subject falls below state averages, with English Language Arts being the most severe weakness across the board. The elementary schools demonstrate that strong attendance and solid foundations exist in this community, but the transition to middle school appears to be a critical breaking point—7th grade math proficiency at East Lake Academy is just 7.3%. Year-over-year data shows some encouraging gains at East Lake Elementary (ELA rising from 16.3% to 21.9%) and East Lake Academy (science up from 16.2% to 22.8%), but proficiency remains critically low. Families in 37407 should know that while these schools benefit from committed attendance and notable per-student funding, significant academic support is urgently needed, particularly in reading and writing.