Summary:
In zip code 37411 (Chattanooga, TN), there are 4 schools—2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high—serving 1,724 students, all part of Hamilton County Schools, a district ranked in the middle of Tennessee schools. The standout is Barger Academy of Fine Arts, which has the lowest chronic absenteeism (8.9%) and the highest math, ELA, and science proficiency rates in the area. Its 4th grade math proficiency reaches 40.9%, nearly matching the state rate. In contrast, Dalewood Middle School is the most struggling, ranking in the 3rd percentile statewide with only 6.3% of students proficient in ELA and a 27.8% chronic absenteeism rate—despite spending the most per student ($23,825). Woodmore Elementary School has slipped to the 10th percentile, with slightly improving math and ELA scores but still far below district and state averages. Brainerd High School shows real momentum, climbing from the 3rd to 11th percentile, with sharp gains in Algebra II, Biology, and English II, though its graduation rate (86.1%) and dropout rate (9.0%) remain concerns.
Chronic absenteeism varies dramatically across the zip code: from a strong 8.9% at Barger to an alarming 42.7% at Brainerd High—more than 2.3 times the state average. Higher spending does not guarantee better outcomes; Dalewood spends the most but performs the worst, while Barger spends about $3,000 less per student and dramatically outperforms it. Barger and Woodmore are similar in size and spending, yet Barger leads by 17.3 points in math proficiency, showing what is possible in this area.
Every school in 37411 ranks in the bottom quarter of its school type, and none meet state averages in any major subject. Still, bright spots exist at the grade level, such as Barger’s 4th grade math, Woodmore’s 3rd grade science, Dalewood’s 8th grade social studies, and Brainerd’s 10th grade Algebra II. These pockets of success may point to strategies worth expanding, but the zip code as a whole clearly needs focused support, especially around attendance and foundational literacy and math skills.
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