The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in English language arts. The lowest is 22% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Hawkins Mill Elementary
Hawkins Mill Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Memphis, within the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet.
The student body is overwhelmingly composed of Black students, with very small shares of white, Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial students. The school’s enrollment is on the smaller side for an elementary school serving those grade levels. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch was not available in the provided information, nor were figures on students with disabilities or English learners.
State testing results through Tennessee’s TNReady assessments for the most recent school year show where this school’s students stand in core academic subjects. In math, just under a third of students scored at a proficient level or above. In English language arts, the share was just over a third. In science, roughly a fifth of students reached proficiency. Across these three tested subjects, Hawkins Mill Elementary’s combined proficiency rate places it in the bottom quarter when compared with the other school districts in Shelby County. The county-level comparison here is at the district level, so the school is being positioned relative to the overall performance of districts, not individual schools, but the gap is clear. A parent considering this school should know that state test scores are low relative to the county median, and they may want to ask the school about specific academic supports and interventions in place.
The school serves pre-kindergarten, so it provides an early childhood entry point for families in the neighborhood. The housing context in the area reflects a market where home values are well below national and state benchmarks, with a modest year-over-year decline. Rental costs also run below national averages. These figures align with a neighborhood where housing is relatively affordable in the broader Memphis and national context, which is consistent with many areas served by Memphis-Shelby County Schools. The school is part of a large, urban district that has undergone publicly reported discussions about school closures and a facility restructuring plan known as Reimagining 901, as well as a referendum on a property tax increase in recent years. Families moving into the attendance zone should be aware that district-level changes could affect school operations in the future.
The locale is Memphis, a major city on the Mississippi River with well-documented cultural and civic assets. Tom Lee Park, a downtown riverfront space, underwent a major renovation and now includes ball courts, walking trails, and bike stands. Shelby Farms Park in East Memphis is one of the largest urban parks in the nation. Overton Park, near midtown, is home to the Memphis Zoo. Beale Street remains a historic entertainment anchor. The city’s public library system serves residents across neighborhoods. Public bus service is provided by the Memphis Area Transit Authority, whose board members are appointed by the mayor. Cultural institutions include the National Civil Rights Museum, Graceland, Sun Studio, and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. The Mississippi River itself is a defining physical and civic presence. FedExForum hosts the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies.
Overall, Hawkins Mill Elementary is a small, neighborhood-based elementary school within a large urban district, serving a predominately Black student population in an area of Memphis where housing is affordable. Academic proficiency on state assessments is below the county median across math, reading, and science. The school does offer pre-kindergarten, which is a meaningful entry point for early learning. For a parent weighing this school, the test results are the central fact to investigate further, alongside any specific academic support programs, teacher stability, and how the district’s ongoing restructuring may affect the school building and its feeder pattern.
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