Schools in Zip Code 38233

Schools in zip code 38233 in Kenton, Tennessee, consist of a single elementary school, Kenton Elementary School, serving grades PK-4 with an enrollment of 87 students. Because this zip code contains no middle schools, high schools, or alternative schools, families in the area must look beyond 38233 for secondary education. Kenton Elementary is part of the Gibson County Special School District and currently ranks 25th out of 141 elementary schools in the district, earning 4 stars for its district performance.

The school shows a striking academic split. English Language Arts is a clear strength: overall ELA proficiency reached 71.9% in 2025-2026, well above the district’s 55.3% and the state’s 40.6%. Third-grade ELA was exceptional at 92.3% proficient, compared to the state average of 44.9%. However, math and science lag significantly. Overall math proficiency was just 32.3%, which is 10.7 points below the state and 27.1 points below the district. Science proficiency was 34.4%, also well below both benchmarks. A sharp grade-level gap emerges within the school: 3rd-grade math proficiency was 50%, while 4th-grade math fell to 21.1%, and 3rd-grade ELA dropped from 92.3% to 57.9% in 4th grade. This suggests a possible cohort effect or a need for stronger interventions in 4th grade, especially in math.

Kenton Elementary’s small enrollment of 87 students makes year-to-year results highly volatile. The state ranking swung from 103rd (90th percentile) in 2023-2024, to 773rd (23rd percentile) in 2024-2025, and back to 519th (49th percentile) in 2025-2026. Since each percentage point represents less than one student, even a handful of students can move results dramatically. On a positive note, chronic absenteeism is excellent at 7.4%, far better than the state’s 18.3% and slightly better than the district’s 8.4%. The school also spends a striking $18,948 per student. Despite high spending, outcomes are uneven—literacy thrives, but math and science need attention. Overall, Kenton Elementary has strong building blocks, including excellent attendance and outstanding reading proficiency, but its small size and inconsistent STEM performance mean families should view any single-year ranking with caution.