Best Public Schools in Zip Code 37888

ZIP code 37888 is served by a single public school, Washburn School, an alternative PK–12 campus in the rural community of Washburn, Tennessee, operating under Grainger County Schools. Because it is the only school in the area, it serves the full educational spectrum—from pre-K through 12th grade—with an enrollment of 477 students.

Washburn School stands out for its strong student retention and attendance outcomes. The graduation rate is 95.3%, well above the state average of 90.5%, and the dropout rate of 2.3% is far lower than the state’s 6.7%. Chronic absenteeism is also a positive: 13.6% of students are chronically absent, compared to 17.2% for the district and 18.3% for the state. Academically, U.S. History is a clear bright spot, with 51.9% proficiency—higher than both the district (41.7%) and state (42.4%). However, core subject proficiency lags behind state averages. Math is the most urgent concern, with only 19.7% proficient versus 43.0% statewide; Geometry proficiency is just 15.6%. English Language Arts is also below average at 30.0% (state: 40.6%), though elementary grades perform somewhat better, while 8th grade ELA is notably weak at 12.9%. Science and social studies are closer to state levels, with social studies at 45.7% (state: 51.4%). Per-pupil spending is $13,988.

Year-over-year trends show a mixed picture. Math proficiency declined sharply from 27.2% to 19.7%, while social studies rose dramatically from 26.5% to 45.7%, and ELA stayed flat. Given the small enrollment, cohort sizes may influence these swings, but the math decline warrants attention. The most interesting takeaway is that Washburn achieves strong graduation and dropout outcomes despite low test proficiency, suggesting that the school successfully keeps students engaged and on track to graduate. For parents, this means a school that prioritizes completion and attendance, but one where academic support in mathematics and certain ELA grades may be needed. Overall, Washburn School is a comprehensive alternative campus with genuine strengths in retention—and a few academic areas—but significant challenges in core subjects compared to state averages.