Best Public Schools in Zip Code 37421

In zip code 37421 (Chattanooga, TN), there are three public elementary schools serving grades PK-5, all part of Hamilton County Schools, with no middle or high schools in the area. For parents, the most important takeaway is that the elementary school your child attends in this zip code makes a huge difference. Westview Elementary School is the clear standout, ranking in the 89th percentile statewide with a 4-star rating. Its math proficiency is 64.1%, ELA is 70.4%, and science is 61.8% — all well above district and state averages. Westview also has remarkably low chronic absenteeism at just 7.8%. On the other end, Bess T Shepherd Elementary School is the biggest concern, ranking in the 17th percentile with only 1 star. Its proficiency rates are far lower (math 25.5%, ELA 35.3%, science 22.5%), and despite spending the most per student ($17,058), it performs the weakest. East Brainerd Elementary School sits in the middle, with a 34th percentile ranking and proficiency rates near district averages, but its chronic absenteeism rate of 18.6% is the highest in the group and slightly above the state average.

The achievement gap between Westview and Bess T Shepherd is stark, with science scores differing by nearly 40 percentage points despite both schools being just a few miles apart and in the same district. Spending clearly does not explain performance, since Westview spends the least per student ($16,249) yet achieves the best results. Chronic absenteeism only tells part of the story — Bess T Shepherd has moderate absenteeism (13.2%) yet still struggles, while East Brainerd’s higher absenteeism may be dragging down its scores. Encouragingly, Bess T Shepherd is improving, especially in ELA, which jumped from 25.5% to 35.3% in one year, but it still has a long way to go.

One troubling pattern is that both East Brainerd and Bess T Shepherd see noticeable drops in 5th grade performance, especially in science and math, suggesting students fall further behind in upper elementary grades before leaving the zip code for middle school. For families, this means choosing Westview, if possible, offers a far stronger academic experience, while Bess T Shepherd’s momentum is a positive sign but remains risky. Since there are no middle or high schools in 37421, parents must plan for schooling beyond 5th grade outside the zip code.