Summary:
Zip code 37642 is served by two elementary schools, Church Hill Elementary School and Carter's Valley Elementary School, both covering grades K–4 within Hawkins County Schools, a district ranked near the middle of Tennessee districts. With enrollments of about 300 students each, these are small schools where year-to-year changes can be substantial.
In the most recent 2025–26 rankings, Church Hill is the clear academic standout, jumping to the 51st percentile statewide (497th out of 1,019) and earning 3 stars, after sitting in the 18th percentile just a year earlier. Church Hill now beats the state average in ELA (44.7% vs. 40.6%) and science (47.0% vs. 46.9%), and its 4th grade scores are particularly strong, exceeding state proficiency rates in math, ELA, and science. Carter's Valley, by contrast, has fallen to the 31st percentile (703rd) and trails Church Hill in every all-grades subject — most notably math, where only 28.6% of its students are proficient compared with Church Hill's 42.4%. Just two years ago, Carter's Valley was the higher-ranked school, so this is a striking reversal. The one area where Carter's Valley shines is attendance, with a chronic absenteeism rate of 14.1%, well below both the district (19.8%) and state (18.3%).
The biggest shared concern is 3rd grade math: Carter's Valley sits at just 12.9% proficient and Church Hill at 32.8%, both far behind the state's 42.6%. Interestingly, both schools do much better in 4th grade math, though these are different cohorts, so improvement is not proven. Another notable finding is that Carter's Valley spends $827 more per student ($14,020 vs. $13,193), yet scores lower across the board, though demographics and student needs could explain the difference. For parents, Church Hill currently offers the stronger academic profile, especially in upper elementary, while Carter's Valley demonstrates excellent attendance and a solid 4th grade ELA performance. Given the small class sizes and large ranking swings, families should watch multi-year trends before drawing firm conclusions.
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