Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 37921

Zip code 37921 in Knoxville, Tennessee is served by 7 elementary schools within Knox County Schools, spanning grades PK/K–5 with one K–8 exception, and together enrolling about 2,445 students. Academic performance across these schools is generally well below both district and state averages, but the variation within this small geographic area is striking. Beaumont Elementary/Magnet School is the clear academic leader, ranking in the 65th percentile statewide and outperforming the district in both math (49.3% proficient) and ELA (51.1%). By contrast, four other schools rank in the bottom 13th percentile or lower, with proficiency rates often 15–30 points below district norms. Pleasant Ridge Elementary stands out for science (50.8% proficient) but saw its overall state rank drop from the 71st to the 46th percentile in just one year.

The gap between the highest and lowest performing schools is enormous: math proficiency ranges from 49.3% at Beaumont down to 9.8% at Maynard Elementary, a 39.5-point spread. Emerald Academy offers a mixed profile, with strong 3rd-grade scores and the lowest chronic absenteeism (14.1%) but very weak upper-grade results, including 8th-grade math at just 15.4%. Spending does not align with outcomes: Maynard spends over $31,000 per student yet has the lowest scores, while Beaumont spends the least ($15,438) and achieves the most. Chronic absenteeism tracks roughly with low performance—Maynard (24.8%), West Haven (23.5%), and West View (20.6%) all have high absence rates—but Lonsdale Elementary shows moderate absenteeism (17%) with very low scores, suggesting other factors are at play.

For parents, this area offers a stark choice: Beaumont is the only school consistently above district averages, while Pleasant Ridge remains strong in science despite a recent decline. Emerald Academy may be appealing for early elementary grades but carries risk for older students. West Haven Elementary, West View Elementary, Lonsdale, and Maynard all have proficiency rates well below district norms and should be carefully evaluated. Overall, families in 37921 should look beyond the district average and consider each school’s grade-level performance, attendance trends, and stability over time.