Best Public Schools in Zip Code 38305

ZIP code 38305 in Jackson, Tennessee, is home to 10 schools in the Jackson-Madison County Schools district—4 elementary schools (K-5), 3 middle schools (6-8), 2 high schools (9-12), and 1 alternative school—serving approximately 5,770 students. The district itself ranks 134th out of 141 Tennessee districts, placing it in the bottom 5% statewide. This is critical context: even the strongest school in the ZIP is only mid-range compared to the rest of Tennessee.

Pope School stands out as the best overall school in the ZIP, ranking at the 41st percentile (606th of 1,019 schools) with a 2-star rating. It has the lowest chronic absenteeism in the ZIP (9.5% vs. 28.2% district average) and exceeds district proficiency in every tested subject. However, Pope has declined sharply from the 65th percentile in 2023-2024. Northeast Middle School is the strongest middle school at the 37th percentile, with remarkable 92% Algebra I proficiency among advanced 8th graders—though this reflects a selected group, not the whole school. Jackson Academic STEAM Academy, the alternative school, shines with a 93.3% graduation rate and strong ELA, science, and social studies results. Among high schools, North Side High School (13th percentile) clearly outperforms Liberty Technology Magnet High School (7th percentile), though both remain far below state averages in every subject.

Chronic absenteeism is the clearest pattern in the data: the three schools with the highest absenteeism—Liberty Technology Magnet (52.4%), Andrew Jackson Elementary (40.6%), and North Side High (39.2%)—are also the lowest performers academically. Meanwhile, Pope's 9.5% absenteeism correlates with its top ranking. Elementary schools in the ZIP generally outperform the district, but middle schools and high schools fall below district averages, suggesting a transition problem. Higher spending does not guarantee results: North Side spends the most ($15,005 per student) yet ranks low, while Pope spends just $12,762. Finally, "magnet" and "technology" labels can be misleading—Liberty and Jackson Career Technology Magnet struggle despite their specialized names, while the STEAM Academy delivers strong outcomes.