Best High Schools in Zip Code 37861

Zip code 37861 (Rutledge, Tennessee) is served by two high schools — Grainger High School and Grainger Academy — both part of Grainger County Schools, covering grades 9–12 in a small-town setting.

Grainger High School is the main comprehensive school with 756 students, while Grainger Academy is an extremely small alternative setting with just 6 students. Grainger High School posts a strong 95.9% graduation rate, a 1.5% dropout rate, and ranks in the 38th percentile statewide (248th out of 400 Tennessee high schools). Its strongest subjects are English II (51.9% proficient), Biology I (46.0%), and US History (41.2%), all within a few points of state averages except English II, which trails the state by about 6 points. However, math is a clear weakness: Algebra I proficiency is 17.8% (state: 32.3%), Algebra II is 17.7% (state: 37.3%), and Geometry is 21.7% (state: 42.3%) — a nearly 21-point gap in Geometry. The school improved in five of seven tested subjects year-over-year, with particularly strong gains in Biology I (+7.7), English I (+7.4), and Algebra I (+6.9), but Geometry and English II declined slightly.

By contrast, Grainger Academy is not directly comparable. With only 6 students, one student equals roughly 17% of the school, so its 80% graduation rate, 20% dropout rate, and 20% chronic absenteeism (2023–2024) should be viewed with caution. It spends about $45,825 per student — more than triple Grainger High School’s $12,534 — likely reflecting fixed costs for a very small, high-need population rather than superior outcomes. For parents, Grainger High School offers a solid graduation track record and improving academics, particularly in English and history, but math proficiency lags significantly behind Tennessee averages. Chronic absenteeism (19.2%) is also slightly above the state rate, which may be worth monitoring. Overall, this area provides a traditional high school with clear academic strengths and challenges, plus a tiny alternative school serving a very specialized population.