Summary:
ZIP code 37871 in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, serves 1,926 students across four schools—one elementary, one middle, and two high schools (including a virtual academy)—that belong to two different districts: Knox County Schools and Jefferson County Schools.
Jefferson Virtual Academy is the smallest school (55 students) but posted the strongest 2025–2026 TNReady results, with 55.7% average proficiency across subjects and science proficiency nearly 22 points above the state average—though its small size and uneven past results warrant caution. Carter Middle School is the most improved, jumping from the 28th to 41st percentile with gains in every core subject, though it still trails district and state averages. Rush Strong Elementary School boasts the best attendance in the ZIP code (11.5% chronic absenteeism) but saw its ranking drop from the 51st to 28th percentile, with ELA proficiency falling from 35.3% to 27.9%. Carter High School raises the most concern: its graduation rate (86.8%) is below the state average, its dropout rate (9.6%) is well above it, and 28.5% of students are chronically absent.
Carter Middle School's Algebra I results look strong at first glance (54.3% proficient), but that figure is misleading because only advanced students take the exam; among 8th-grade test-takers, the school trails district and state averages by roughly 30 points. Chronic absenteeism is a major issue across Carter schools, with rates around 30%. Spending also fails to predict outcomes: Carter High School spends the most per pupil ($14,475) yet shows the weakest results, while Jefferson Virtual Academy spends the least ($8,637) and posts the best scores. Overall, Strawberry Plains schools sit mostly below state averages, but Jefferson Virtual Academy's strong showing and Carter Middle School's steady improvement offer reasons for optimism.
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