The top reported proficiency rate is 71% in English language arts. The lowest is 60% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Idlewild Elementary
Idlewild Elementary, a regular public school in the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district, serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade. The school is located on Linden Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee, and sits within a large urban district that covers a wide and diverse city.
Academically, a look at the most recent state testing data shows that Idlewild’s students are performing at a level that places the school below the midpoint among districts in Shelby County on a combined proficiency index. On the TNReady assessments, more than half of students scored at the proficient or above level in reading and language arts, which is a solid showing. In math, a smaller but still substantial share of students reached that bar. Science results are stronger than math but still trail the performance seen in English language arts. Social studies data comes from an older testing cycle, making it difficult to draw a direct comparison to current performance. For a school serving only elementary grades, there are no high school graduation rate or chronic absenteeism measures to consider. A parent considering Idlewild may want to ask the school for more detail on how the school supports students who are not yet meeting the state’s proficiency targets, particularly in math.
The student body is racially and ethnically mixed. Black or African American students and White students each make up a large portion of the enrollment, with a smaller share of students who identify as two or more races and a smaller group of Hispanic students. Asian and American Indian or Alaska Native students are present in very small numbers. The school serves about as many students as is typical for an elementary school of this grade span, with class sections across kindergarten through fifth grade. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch is not reported. Information on students with disabilities and English learners is also unavailable in the data provided, so a family with a child in one of these populations should confirm directly with the school what services are offered.
The surrounding community is Memphis itself, a city defined by its location on the Mississippi River. Tom Lee Park, a riverside park downtown, underwent a major renovation completed in 2023 with new ball courts, trails, and bike stands. Shelby Farms Park in East Memphis is one of the largest urban parks in the country. Overton Park sits in midtown, houses the Memphis Zoo, and is adjacent to Rhodes College. Beale Street serves as a civic and cultural anchor. The city’s cultural landmarks include the National Civil Rights Museum, Graceland, Sun Studio, and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. FedExForum downtown is home to the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies. The Memphis Area Transit Authority provides public bus service, with board members appointed by the mayor. The Memphis Public Libraries system serves residents across the city.
Housing in the area around the school is somewhat more affordable than the state median home value. The typical home value has seen a modest decline over the past year, and rental prices have also dipped slightly, which may signal a market that is loosening for prospective buyers or renters. The estimated monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home, assuming a standard down payment and the recent mortgage rate, is roughly comparable to the median rent, suggesting that neither renting nor owning presents a stark cost advantage at the moment. The national unemployment rate remains low, and real median household income nationally has been rising gradually, though local figures are not available in this data.
The parent district, Memphis-Shelby County Schools, is a large system that has been navigating operational changes in recent years. The district has been active with a Reimagining 901 plan that has involved school closures and consolidations, and it pursued a property tax referendum in recent years. A family choosing Idlewild should be aware that the district's broader landscape of school options and boundaries could shift over time, and staying informed about the district's long-range facilities plan is worthwhile. The school itself does not carry a charter or magnet designation, operating as a regular neighborhood school within the district’s structure.
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