Best Public Schools in Zip Code 38366

The 38366 zip code in Tennessee is served by a single elementary school, South Elementary School in Pinson, which enrolls 468 students in grades PK-5 and is part of the Jackson-Madison County Schools district. Because there is only one school in the area, the most useful comparison is against the district and state. South Elementary is a clear academic bright spot within a district that ranks near the bottom in Tennessee—Jackson-Madison County sits in the 5th percentile statewide—yet the school itself ranks in the 52nd percentile for 2025–2026. It outperforms its district by roughly 14 to 22 percentage points in math, English language arts, and science, making it a consistently stronger option than the surrounding district averages would suggest.

Looking at the most recent test data, South Elementary’s all-grade proficiency rates are closely aligned with Tennessee’s statewide averages: 41.1% in math (vs. 43.0% statewide), 41.4% in ELA (vs. 40.6%), and 50.7% in science (vs. 46.9%). The school’s real strength shows up in the upper elementary grades, particularly in 5th grade math, where 63.2% of students are proficient—far above both the district’s 32.8% and the state’s 47.4%. Science is also a standout subject, with 4th grade proficiency reaching 60.5% and 5th grade hitting 57.9%, both more than 10 points above state averages. However, 3rd grade scores trail state norms across all subjects, suggesting that academic gains accelerate as students progress through the school.

Despite these strengths, there are warning signs. South Elementary’s state ranking has declined sharply over the past three years, dropping from the 75th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 52nd percentile in 2025–2026, though it has maintained a 3-star rating. Chronic absenteeism stands at 20.8%—better than the district’s 28.2% but still above Tennessee’s 18.3% average, meaning roughly one in five students misses enough school to be considered chronically absent. Per-student spending is $13,003, but data on free/reduced lunch eligibility and student-teacher ratio are not available. For families in zip code 38366, South Elementary offers a much stronger academic environment than the surrounding district, but the downward ranking trend and attendance concerns are worth monitoring.