Summary:
ZIP code 38456 is served by a single school, Ethridge Elementary School, which enrolls 516 students in grades PK through 8 and belongs to Lawrence County Schools, a district ranked 51st out of 141 in Tennessee with a 3-star rating. As the only school in the area, Ethridge functions as both the elementary and middle school option for families in this community, with students transitioning to schools outside the ZIP code after 8th grade.
Ethridge Elementary School stands out as a high-performing school, earning a 4-star rating and ranking 245th out of 1,019 Tennessee elementary schools (76th percentile) for 2025–2026. The school outperforms both its district and the state in nearly every subject: math proficiency is 57.5% versus 47.7% for the district and 43.0% statewide, while ELA proficiency reaches 54.7% compared to 44.4% for the district and 40.6% for the state. Science (53.0%) and social studies (54.1%) also exceed district and state averages. Chronic absenteeism is just 8.3%, far below the district's 14.5% and the state's 18.3%, and per-student spending is $12,788.
Ethridge Elementary School has shown meaningful improvement over the past two years, with math proficiency rising from 54.4% to 57.5%, ELA from 49.0% to 54.7%, and social studies from 47.1% to 54.1%. Middle school math is exceptional: 6th grade (66.7%), 7th grade (62.5%), and 8th grade (67.6%) all exceed state averages by more than 20 percentage points. The main weakness is 3rd grade math at 41.2%, below the district (57.2%) and state (42.6%), though the same cohort rebounds to 68.8% in 4th grade. Overall, Ethridge is a bright spot within its district, with strong attendance and academic gains that make it a standout choice for families in ZIP code 38456.
Thank you for your feedback!