Best High Schools in Zip Code 37411

Zip code 37411 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is served by a single high school: Brainerd High School, which enrolls 739 students in grades 9 through 12 as part of Hamilton County Schools. As the only high school in the area, Brainerd is the central educational hub for the community. The school has shown a positive directional trend in its state ranking, moving from the 3rd percentile in 2023-2024 to the 8th percentile in 2024-2025 and reaching the 11th percentile in 2025-2026, though it remains near the bottom of Tennessee high schools at 357 out of 400.

Academic achievement at Brainerd High School trails both the district and state by wide margins in every tested subject. Proficiency rates for 2025-2026 include 7.1% in Algebra I, 10.2% in Geometry, 11.5% in US History, 21.5% in Algebra II, 21.8% in Biology I, and 22.0% in English II. The largest gap is in English II, where the district posts 57.7% proficiency and the state 58.1%, leaving Brainerd more than 35 points behind. Graduation and dropout rates also reflect challenges: an 86.1% graduation rate compares to 93.5% for Hamilton County and 90.5% statewide, while the 9.0% dropout rate is nearly double the district's 4.9%. Chronic absenteeism is a major red flag, affecting 42.7% of students versus roughly 17-18% across the district and state.

Encouragingly, several subjects improved year over year. Algebra II proficiency jumped from 8.9% to 21.5%, Biology I rose from 12.6% to 21.8%, and English II improved from 15.8% to 22.0%, while Algebra I and Geometry declined. Brainerd spends a substantial $18,581 per student, yet outcomes remain far below district and state averages, suggesting that resource allocation and student support needs deserve continued attention. For parents, the key takeaways are that Brainerd is a high-need school facing significant challenges in attendance, literacy, and math, but the three-year upward trend in its ranking and notable subject-level gains offer cautious reasons for hope. Reducing chronic absenteeism and strengthening foundational skills will be critical to sustaining progress.