Summary:
Zip code 37727 contains one school, Del Rio Elementary School, a small K-8 school with just 85 students and the only school serving this rural area. It is part of Cocke County Schools, which ranks 61st out of 141 Tennessee districts with a 3-star rating. Although classified as an elementary school, Del Rio spans grades K through 8, covering both elementary and middle school ages in a single building.
Del Rio's clearest strengths are in English Language Arts, science, and social studies. In 2025-26, 60% of students scored proficient in ELA, far outpacing the district's 35.1% and the state's 40.6%. The 7th grade is especially impressive, with 72.7% proficient in science and 81.8% in social studies, both well above Tennessee averages. The school also improved markedly year over year, gaining nearly 11 points in both ELA and science. Its state ranking has been volatile, moving from the 36th percentile in 2023-24, to the 70th percentile in 2024-25, and settling at the 60th percentile in 2025-26.
Mathematics is the school's biggest challenge. Only 30% of students were proficient in math versus 44.9% in the district and 43.0% statewide, with 5th grade the lowest at 18.2% proficient compared to 47.4% statewide. Chronic absenteeism affects 19.0% of students, better than the district's 26.2% but just above the state's 18.3%. Per-pupil spending is high at $19,823, typical for a very small school where fixed costs are spread across fewer students. Families should also know there is no high school in the zip code, so students must leave the area after 8th grade. Given the small enrollment, grade-level percentages should be interpreted cautiously, but the broad pattern of strong literacy and weak math is clear.
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