Schools in Zip Code 38375

Zip code 38375 in Selmer, Tennessee is served by 4 schools within the McNairy County Schools district, enrolling 1,451 students across grades PK-12. The district overall ranks 92 out of 141 Tennessee districts (35th percentile, 2 stars), and includes McNairy Central High School, Selmer Elementary School, Selmer Middle School, and the McNairy County Virtual School K-12.

Selmer Middle School stands out as the most consistent school, earning 3 stars for three straight years with remarkably low chronic absenteeism of 9.5%, far better than the district's 16.8% and the state's 18.3%. Its 6th graders outperform state averages in math, ELA, science, and social studies. Selmer Elementary School is a school in decline, falling from the 78th percentile (4 stars) in 2023-24 to the 49th percentile (2 stars) in 2025-26, though its 4th grade cohort remains excellent in math, ELA, and science. McNairy Central High School posts a strong 91.6% graduation rate and a tiny 1.8% dropout rate, but trails the state in every tested subject and slipped from the 50th to 34th percentile. The McNairy County Virtual School K-12 serves just 33 students at $3,338 per student, but proficiency is extremely low across all subjects.

One striking weakness is early elementary math, where only 18.6% of Selmer Elementary School 3rd graders are proficient versus 42.6% statewide. At Selmer Middle School, 8th grade ELA proficiency is just 16.4% compared to the state's 32.3%, despite 6th graders exceeding state ELA averages. All three traditional schools have lost ground in state rankings since 2023-24, with only Selmer Middle School holding steady. Strong attendance at Selmer Middle School has not translated into strong overall test scores, showing attendance alone is insufficient. The clearest pattern is a "cohort strength" around 4th and 6th grades, suggesting specific instructional strategies worth studying, while the high school successfully retains students who may graduate without strong academic mastery.