The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in Social studies. The lowest is 6% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on A. B. Hill Elementary
A. B. Hill Elementary is a regular public school in Memphis serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade within the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district. The school sits in the 38106 ZIP code, an area where the housing market is notably affordable relative to both state and national benchmarks; home values have shown a recent decline, and rents are modest. This economic context aligns with a school community where, based on available data, a substantial share of families likely qualify for support programs, though the precise free-or-reduced-price lunch rate was not reported.
The student body is overwhelmingly Black, with small numbers of Hispanic, white, two-or-more-races, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. The enrollment is sizeable for an elementary school covering only these grade levels. The school draws its students from a city with significant cultural and recreational assets: the Mississippi River waterfront, Tom Lee Park’s extensive renovation, Shelby Farms Park, Overton Park and the Memphis Zoo, Beale Street, the National Civil Rights Museum, Graceland, Sun Studio, and the Stax Museum. The Memphis Area Transit Authority provides public bus service, and the mayor appoints board members to that authority.
On state assessments, the picture is straightforward and sobering. In English language arts, a small minority of tested students scored at the proficient or above level. In science, an even smaller share met that bar. Math proficiency data for the most recent year was suppressed, so a direct figure is not available, but the composite proficiency index across tested subjects places A. B. Hill in the bottom quartile relative to all other districts in Shelby County. Social studies results from an earlier year, before a test change that makes direct comparison unreliable, showed a higher but still modest proficiency rate. Participation rates on the tests were high, meaning the results reflect nearly all students. A parent considering this school should understand that academic attainment on these measures is far below the county median.
No data was available for chronic absenteeism, special education identification rates, or English learner enrollment. The school’s charter status is not charter, and its magnet and Title I designations were not reported. A parent may want to ask the school or district directly about support services, class sizes, and any targeted programs for reading and math intervention, given the proficiency results.
The district itself, Memphis-Shelby County Schools, has been in the news regarding school closures under the Reimagining 901 plan and a property tax referendum. These publicly reported developments may affect attendance boundaries, building conditions, or funding priorities, so a family in this attendance zone may wish to confirm that A. B. Hill’s status and programs are stable.
What this school offers is a neighborhood elementary option in a city rich with history and public amenities, with an enrollment large enough to sustain typical elementary activities. The academic numbers, however, point to a school where most students are not yet meeting grade-level benchmarks on state tests, and a family considering this school would want to investigate what academic supports, tutoring, or enrichment are available and whether the school’s approach matches their child’s needs.
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