Best High Schools in Zip Code 38462

There are two high schools serving grades 9–12 in zip code 38462, both located in Hohenwald, Tennessee, and both belonging to the Lewis County Schools district: Volunteer State Virtual Academy High School and Lewis County High School.

Lewis County High School is the clear standout in this area. It earns 3 stars, ranks in the 54th percentile statewide, and posts a graduation rate of 90.1%, nearly matching the state average. Its dropout rate of 5.9% is below both the district and state averages, and it showed major year-over-year improvements in Biology I and English I. In contrast, Volunteer State Virtual Academy High School ranks in the 21st percentile with only 1 star. Its graduation rate is just 71.2%, and its dropout rate of 23.1% is more than triple the state average. The virtual academy also has the higher chronic absenteeism rate at 31.6%, compared to Lewis County High School’s 24.9%. Both schools exceed the state’s 18.3% chronic absenteeism rate, which remains a concern even for the stronger school.

Math proficiency is a serious challenge at both schools, but especially at Volunteer State Virtual Academy High School, where only 6.8% of students are proficient in Algebra I and 7.4% in Algebra II. Lewis County High School trails the state in Algebra I and Geometry but excels in Biology I at 54% proficiency, above the state average. Spending differences are also stark: the virtual academy spends $4,940 per student versus $12,229 at Lewis County High School, and that funding gap aligns with large gaps in graduation rates, test scores, and rankings. These two schools, within the same district, serve very different student populations and operate under different models, making school-level data essential for parents. While Lewis County High School is clearly the stronger option on nearly every measure, both schools have room to improve, especially in math and attendance.