Schools in Zip Code 38472

ZIP code 38472 in Lynnville, TN serves approximately Richland School (grades 6–12) and Richland Elementary School (PK–5), together educating about 1,153 students as part of Giles County Schools — a district that ranks in the lower half of Tennessee. Both schools are relatively strong within this district, though both have slipped from 4 stars to 3 stars in recent years. The elementary school stands out for strong early math and ELA, while the secondary school excels in science and social studies, but both show clear weak points that parents should know about.

Comparing the two schools, Richland Elementary School is the stronger overall performer in core subjects, with all-grades math proficiency of 48% and ELA of 47.7%, both above state averages. It is exceptionally strong in 4th grade, but parents should be aware of a sharp 5th-grade slump, especially in math, where proficiency drops roughly 17 points from 4th grade to 37.5%. Richland School performs very well in 6th grade and posts impressive 9th-grade Biology results (81.8% proficiency), yet it faces a serious 8th-grade cliff — proficiency in math, ELA, science, and social studies all fall below state averages by 8th grade. Algebra I is also a major weakness at just 22.6% proficiency, despite strong Algebra II outcomes (50%).

There are encouraging signs: both schools have excellent attendance with chronic absenteeism around 10–12% versus 18.3% statewide, and spending is nearly identical at about $11,900 per student. The graduation rate at Richland School (88.6%) is slightly below the state average, though the dropout rate is very low. The most urgent areas to investigate are the 8th-grade academic decline and the Algebra I pathway, while the strong 6th-grade performance and 9th-grade Biology success offer promising models to replicate.