The top reported proficiency rate is 32% in English language arts. The lowest is 11% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Highland Oaks Elementary
Highland Oaks Elementary is a regular public school in Memphis, Tennessee, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district, the largest school system in the state. The school’s enrollment is substantial for its grade band, and the student body is predominantly Black, with a notable Hispanic share and very small numbers of White, Asian, and multiracial students. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch was not available in the record, and information on students with disabilities and English learners was also absent. A parent may want to ask the school directly about these support populations.
On the state’s TNReady assessments, which are administered in grades three through eight, Highland Oaks’s results sit in a challenging territory. In math, roughly three out of every ten students scored at the proficient level or above. In English language arts, the figure was similar, just over three out of ten. Science results were essentially at the same level. Social studies data comes from an older testing cycle, during a period when the state made changes to both the test itself and the cut scores, so that old result does not represent current conditions and is not a fair comparison to the newer data. Taken together, the school’s overall proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quartile among districts in Shelby County. This is the primary academic fact for a family weighing this school: the proportion of students meeting state benchmarks is low relative to other public options in the county.
Test participation rates were high, well above the threshold that would call results into question, so the reported figures reflect the actual performance of students who took the exams.
Because the school ends at fifth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. The available data did not include information on chronic absenteeism, disciplinary actions, or course access, so a picture of the school environment beyond test scores is thin. The record also did not indicate whether Highland Oaks qualifies as a Title I school, which for a Memphis school serving these grade levels would be relevant to understanding the level of federal support for low-income students. A parent may want to verify this with the district.
The school sits in the Memphis metro area, a large city defined by the Mississippi River and a dense concentration of cultural and civic institutions. Tom Lee Park downtown underwent a major renovation. Shelby Farms Park in East Memphis is one of the largest urban parks in the country. Beale Street, the National Civil Rights Museum, Graceland, Sun Studio, and the Stax Museum are all part of the city’s fabric. The Memphis Area Transit Authority provides public bus service. Housing in the school’s ZIP code is somewhat below the state median home value and noticeably below the national benchmark, and rents are a bit lower than the national norm as well. This is not an area of rapid home price growth; values have been essentially flat in recent data. For a family looking at the immediate neighborhood around Highland Oaks, the housing market is more affordable than much of Tennessee, but it is also not appreciating.
The district, Memphis-Shelby County Schools, has been navigating ongoing changes. Publicly reported plans for school closures under a broader facilities review have been a topic of discussion, and a recent property tax referendum had implications for district funding. A family moving into this attendance zone should confirm the school’s long-term status with the district, as boundary and building decisions have been in flux.
Highland Oaks is a neighborhood elementary school in a large urban district where academic proficiency rates lag the county average. It serves a diverse student body in a city with deep cultural resources and relatively affordable housing. The school’s academic profile is its defining characteristic: a low rate of students meeting state standards in core subjects. There is no data here on enrichment programs, specialized offerings, or staffing that would alter that picture. For a family whose priority is a school with strong overall test scores, this is not the match. For a family already in this part of Memphis who wants a local elementary and is prepared to engage directly with the school on academics and support, Highland Oaks is the zoned option.
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