The top reported proficiency rate is 19% in Social studies. The lowest is 8% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Double Tree Elementary
DoubleTree Elementary, a regular public school in Memphis, serves children from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is one of the elementary schools within the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district, which has been undergoing a period of structural change, including school closures and a property tax referendum, both publicly reported in connection with the district’s Reimagining 901 planning process. What those changes mean for this school’s future is not detailed in the available data, but a parent choosing the school should be aware that the district context is one of active reshaping.
The school’s enrollment is moderate in size for an elementary building serving seven grade levels. The student body is overwhelmingly Black, with very small shares of white students, students of two or more races, Hispanic students, and a single American Indian student. Data on economic disadvantage, special education, and English learner status was not reported in the source materials we received, so a family cannot gauge those dimensions from this profile alone.
On state assessments, Double Tree Elementary’s results are low compared with other schools in its county. The proficiency levels across math, English language arts, and science place the school in the bottom quarter among Shelby County elementary schools. In math, about one in every dozen students scored proficient or above. In English language arts, the share was roughly one in six. In science, it was about one in eight. A social studies result from several years ago, from a different test version, showed a similar low rate. These are the most recent figures available, and they paint a picture of a school where most students are not yet meeting grade-level benchmarks. A parent serious about academic preparation may want to visit the school, talk with teachers and the principal about the specific instructional support in place, and ask about any interventions or targeted programs that are being used to raise achievement.
No measures of discipline, chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, or course access were provided in the data we examined. Without those, it is difficult to say much about the daily learning environment or student support systems beyond what the testing data implies. Since the school serves only early grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and no high-school-level pathways to evaluate.
Housing in the neighborhood is among the more affordable in the Memphis area. Home values have seen a noticeable decline recently, and rents have edged up slightly. The school sits in a city with substantial cultural and civic assets: the Mississippi River riverfront, Tom Lee Park, Shelby Farms Park, the Memphis Zoo, Beale Street, the National Civil Rights Museum, and other landmarks. But those are citywide amenities, not specific to this school’s immediate walk zone. Public transit is available through MATA, but the data gives no detail on routes or access near the school.
For a family considering Double Tree Elementary, the core academic picture is the central reality. The school serves a young student population in a district that is remaking itself. The test results are a clear signal that the typical student at this school is far from grade-level proficiency. Whether the school is on a trajectory of improvement, whether it offers strong early-childhood or wraparound services, and what the peer community is like day to day are questions the data does not answer. A parent weighing this option will want to dig deeper with the school itself and with current families.
See more original research from School Decision →