The top reported proficiency rate is 7% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Memphis Scholars Raleigh-egypt
Memphis Scholars Raleigh-Egypt is a public charter middle school serving grades six through eight in Memphis, Tennessee. It operates under the Achievement School District, the state-run turnaround district created to take over schools identified as low-performing. The school sits on Pennsylvania Avenue, in a residential area of the city. Its enrollment is small, with roughly six dozen students, and the student body is nearly entirely Black. Data on free and reduced-price meal eligibility, special education identification, and English learner status were not available, so a parent would need to ask the school directly about those supports.
State testing results for the most recent school year show extremely low proficiency rates. In math, English language arts, and social studies, the share of students scoring at the proficient level or above was well below a tenth of test-takers. Science results were suppressed, which often happens when the tested group is too small to report publicly. A school serving only middle grades does not have a graduation rate to report, and chronic absenteeism data was also absent from the available information.
On state assessments, this school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects placed it in the bottom quartile among districts in Shelby County. A parent looking at academic performance will find that the scores are far below the county median. That is a straightforward fact, not a judgment, but it is the central academic reality a family would need to weigh.
The Achievement School District itself is ending. In April 2025, the Tennessee legislature passed a bill to dissolve the ASD and replace it with a tiered intervention system starting in the 2026-27 school year. All remaining ASD schools, including Memphis Scholars Raleigh-Egypt, will be transferred back to local district control, in this case Memphis-Shelby County Schools. The ASD has already shrunk dramatically, from 26 schools serving many thousands of students a few years ago to just three schools today. Research published in 2024 found that the ASD did not significantly improve student test scores or graduation rates, which informed the legislative decision to shut it down. For families currently enrolled, this means the school’s governance and likely its leadership and operations will change in the near future.
Memphis itself is a large city with a rich set of cultural and civic landmarks. Tom Lee Park, a downtown riverfront park, completed a major renovation in 2023. Shelby Farms Park and Overton Park are major public greenspaces. Beale Street, the National Civil Rights Museum, Graceland, and the Stax Museum are part of the city’s identity. The Memphis Area Transit Authority runs the bus system, and the mayor appoints its board members. FedExForum hosts the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies. These are the city amenities a family living in Memphis would have access to, though they are not specific to the school’s immediate neighborhood.
Housing values in the school’s ZIP code are very low relative to both the state and national benchmarks. The typical home value is a fraction of the statewide median, and rents are similarly low by national standards. Home values in this area have declined over the past year, and rents have also edged downward. The national unemployment rate and mortgage rate context are not specific to Memphis, so they offer only a broad economic frame.
For a parent considering this school, the picture is clear. The academic outcomes on state tests are far below peer averages, the school is tiny, and the district that runs it is being dissolved. That does not mean the school is without value for every family; a small environment, a charter structure, and a dedicated staff can matter deeply, but the data available here is thin on those details. A parent would want to visit, talk to current families and teachers, and learn how the upcoming transition to Memphis-Shelby County Schools will affect the school’s program and leadership. The low test scores are not the whole story, but they are the most solid piece of evidence in the public record, and they point to a school where most students are not reaching grade-level expectations in core subjects.
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