They DO hv open zoning and magnet schools with highly "selective acceptances."
Athletically speaking, West TN has Briarcrest and maybe Christian Bros...East has Knoxville Webb, Catholic, and Notre Dame.
Middle TN has MBA, CPA, BA,Goodpasture, Clarksville Academy, Ensworth, Webb, Columbia Academy, FRA, BGA, GCA....MOST all within 15-30 mins drive of each other and the public schools they pull from.
Thats why middle TN dominates D2 and not D1. Zero debate.
Oh, and 3-4 kids dont move from out of state to form super teams at the same public school either.