Summary:
Zip code 38369 in rural West Tennessee is served by a single school, Rutherford Elementary School, which enrolls 282 students in grades PK-8 as part of the Gibson County Special School District. Because there is only one school in this zip code, all insights center on how Rutherford Elementary compares with its district and the state of Tennessee.
Rutherford Elementary is a 4-star school that ranks in the 82nd percentile statewide (181st out of 1,019 schools for 2025-2026), up from the 77th percentile three years ago. It outperforms Tennessee state averages in every subject: mathematics (57.5% vs. 43.0%), English language arts (46.7% vs. 40.6%), science (56.8% vs. 46.9%), and social studies (66.7% vs. 51.4%). The school also improved its proficiency rates in all four subjects year over year, with the largest gains in ELA and social studies (+7.2 points each). One of its biggest strengths is attendance: chronic absenteeism is just 6.9%, far below the state rate of 18.3% and better than the district's 8.4%. Per-pupil spending is $12,227.
Despite these positives, Rutherford Elementary trails its own district in every subject, and the district itself ranks in the top 18% of Tennessee districts. The main academic concern is English Language Arts, where all-grades proficiency (46.7%) sits 8.6 points below the district average. Fifth-grade ELA is especially weak at 34.4% proficient, and 8th-grade ELA is 29.7%—both below state averages. In contrast, 6th grade stands out as an exceptionally strong cohort, beating the state by 20+ points in math, science, and social studies. Middle-school math (grades 6-7) also outpaces the district, while upper-elementary and 8th-grade math lag behind. Social studies is the school's highest subject overall, but even there, double-digit gaps with the district appear in 7th and 8th grades. Overall, Rutherford Elementary is a solid, above-average school with excellent attendance, but families should note that ELA proficiency—especially in 5th and 8th grades—remains an area needing attention.
Thank you for your feedback!