The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in English language arts. The lowest is 6% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Brownsville Road Elementary
Brownsville Road Elementary is a regular public elementary school in the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district, serving prekindergarten through fifth grade. The school is located in the Raleigh area of Memphis, a residential pocket of the city. As an elementary school, it does not have a graduation rate or high school outcomes to report.
The school enrolls a large student body. The student population is predominantly Black, with a smaller group of Hispanic students and small numbers of white and multiracial students. Information on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, are in special education, or are classified as English learners was not available in the data used here.
On the Tennessee state assessments in the most recent testing year, the school’s performance across subjects fell in a narrow band. In both English language arts and math, just above a third of students scored at a proficient level or higher. In science, about three out of every ten students reached that bar. The social studies assessment, which the state redesigned since the only year a result was available, had a very low proficiency rate in that earlier period; the assessment change makes a direct comparison to current results impossible.
Placing these results in a local context clarifies where the school stands. In a comparison of all districts in Shelby County, Brownsville Road Elementary’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects landed in the bottom quartile. The other districts in the county vary widely in student composition and resources; this position signals that academic achievement here is lower than at most other elementary schools in the broader county area. The school’s test participation rate was high, which means the results are a reliable snapshot of the student body’s performance.
The area around the school has seen its housing market hold steady. Homes near Brownsville Road Elementary are valued well below the statewide median and also below the national median. Rents are similarly below the national mark, making this one of the more affordable options in the Memphis metro. Between typical rents and an estimated monthly mortgage payment based on current interest rates, renting is currently the less expensive choice for a new household.
Memphis is a large, culturally rich city with anchors like the Mississippi River, Beale Street, and downtown sporting and entertainment venues. Tom Lee Park underwent a major renovation recently, and Shelby Farms Park and Overton Park provide recreation. The school sits outside the downtown core, in a more suburban-style residential area.
For a family considering Brownsville Road Elementary, the bottom-line picture is a neighborhood school with below-average test scores compared to other Shelby County districts. The school serves a large and diverse-by-race student body, though that diversity is concentrated among Black and Hispanic children. There is no information on programs such as gifted education, art, music, or after-school enrichment in the data reviewed, so a parent looking for specialized programming would want to ask the school directly. The Memphis-Shelby County Schools district has been through several recent reorganization efforts, and any family considering a move into this attendance zone should check current zone boundaries and any upcoming school-level changes with the district office. For those who prioritize affordability and a standard elementary program in a stable residential setting, this school fits that description. For those seeking stronger academic outcomes or more program variety, the data suggests looking further into the school’s current offerings and recent improvement efforts.
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