Best Public Schools in Zip Code 38201

In zip code 38201 (McKenzie, TN), there are three public schools serving grades PK-12, all part of the McKenzie Special School District, which ranks in the 84th percentile of Tennessee districts with a 4-star rating. McKenzie High School is the clear standout, ranking in the 91st percentile of Tennessee high schools (5 stars) and improving dramatically over the past two years—its graduation rate is 96.3%, and end-of-course proficiency in Algebra I, English II, and Biology I far exceeds state averages. Meanwhile, McKenzie Elementary School has made big gains, jumping from the 46th to the 65th percentile, and now beats state averages in math, ELA, and science. The main concern is McKenzie Middle School, which has slipped from the 76th to the 66th percentile and trails state averages in math, ELA, and science, though it excels in social studies.

Looking more closely at middle school patterns, 5th and 7th graders lag significantly in math (32.3% and 30.6% proficiency, respectively) while 6th and 8th graders exceed state averages (53.0% and 56.0%). This suggests possible cohort effects or transition challenges. At the elementary school, 3rd grade is strong in both math and ELA, but 4th grade ELA drops sharply to 39.4% proficiency, well below the state average of 47.4%. The high school’s rise is fueled by massive year-over-year jumps on state exams—Algebra I more than doubled from 23% to 48.3%, and English II jumped from 50% to 72.5%—indicating that the upper grades are currently the district’s strongest link.

Across the district, chronic absenteeism is much better than the state’s 18.3% rate, with elementary at 11.6% and middle school at just 8.1%. Per-pupil spending is nearly identical across all three schools (about $11,200–$11,500), so funding differences don’t explain the varying performance. Overall, this is a strong district with an elite high school and improving elementary, but the middle school is the clear weak point—especially in 5th and 7th grade. If the district can address those middle school patterns, the entire pipeline from kindergarten through graduation could become consistently excellent.