Summary:
ZIP code 38257, covering South Fulton, TN, contains exactly two schools within the Obion County Schools district: South Fulton Middle / High School (grades 6–12, 334 students) and South Fulton Elementary School (grades PK–5, 289 students), for a combined enrollment of 623 students.
The clear standout is South Fulton Middle / High School, ranked 68th out of 400 Tennessee high schools (83rd percentile) with a 4-star rating, up from 92nd the previous year. It excels in mathematics with 73.3% proficiency versus 43.0% statewide, and Biology I proficiency reaches 71.9% compared to 49.8% statewide. Its graduation rate is a strong 94.6%, and chronic absenteeism is just 11.2%. In contrast, South Fulton Elementary School has fallen sharply from 399th (3 stars) to 617th (2 stars) in state rankings. All three tested subjects declined year-over-year, and 3rd grade science proficiency is a severe 15% versus 44.3% statewide.
These two schools are moving in opposite directions. The middle/high school improved notably in Algebra I (21.2% to 38.5%) and social studies (40.8% to 52.6%), while the elementary school dropped below both district and state averages in math and ELA. Spending is similar at both schools ($14,593 vs. $13,347 per student), yet results differ dramatically, suggesting the elementary challenges are instructional rather than financial. Both schools, however, beat the state on attendance, with chronic absenteeism around 10–11% versus 18.3% statewide. The secondary school is a legitimate top-tier performer in math and science, while the elementary school represents an urgent area for improvement in early-grade science and 5th grade ELA.
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