Best Public Schools in Zip Code 37849

ZIP code 37849 contains 5 schools serving 3,852 students in grades PK-12, with four schools in Knox County Schools and one—Claxton Elementary—in Anderson County Schools. The area includes three elementary schools (Powell Elementary, Copper Ridge Elementary, and Claxton Elementary), one middle school (Powell Middle School), and one high school (Powell High School).

Powell Middle School is the standout school in the ZIP code, ranking at the 68th percentile statewide with a 3-star rating. It is above the state average in science and social studies, and its Algebra I proficiency of 93.6% is extraordinary—though this likely reflects a selective group of advanced students since overall math proficiency remains below the state average. Powell Elementary and Copper Ridge Elementary are both solid 3-star performers near the 61st–62nd percentile, outpacing state averages in math and ELA. Claxton Elementary offers the best attendance in the area at just 14.4% chronic absenteeism, but it is the lowest-performing school academically, ranking in the 33rd percentile with 2 stars.

Chronic absenteeism is a concern at the secondary level: Powell Middle School (26.4%) and Powell High School (23.0%) are well above the state average of 18.3%. Several elementary schools also show a "5th grade slump," with clear drops in performance at Copper Ridge, Claxton, and Powell Elementary. Interestingly, higher spending does not guarantee better outcomes—Powell Middle School spends the least per student yet ranks the highest, while Copper Ridge and Claxton spend the most but rank lower. Finally, although Knox County Schools holds a 2-star district rating, four of the five schools in this ZIP code earn 3 stars, a reminder that district-level ratings can hide strong individual schools.