Original Research by School Decision on Melrose High
Melrose High is a regular public high school serving grades nine through twelve in Memphis, Tennessee, within the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district. The school is located on Deadrick Avenue in the city’s 38114 zip code, an area with housing values well below both the state and national medians and rents that are relatively moderate for a major metropolitan area. The local housing market has shown recent price decline, meaning entry-level homebuyers may find more affordable options here than in many other parts of Memphis.
Enrollment at Melrose High runs to a moderate size for a high school, with roughly similar numbers across each grade level. The student body is overwhelmingly Black, with a smaller but notable share of Hispanic students and only a handful of students from other racial backgrounds. Information on how many students qualify for free or reduced-price meals was not reported, nor were data on students with disabilities or English learners, so a parent would need to ask the school directly about these figures and the supports available.
No state testing results were available for Melrose High in the data used for this profile. This is a significant gap for a regular high school. Without proficiency rates in English, math, or other subjects, it is impossible to describe academic performance through the typical measures. Similarly, no graduation rate was reported. The statewide testing and accountability system likely produces this information, but it did not appear in the source material. A parent researching this school would want to contact the school or the district to obtain current test scores and graduation rates before making a judgment about academic outcomes.
The school environment data—discipline, staffing ratios, attendance, and chronic absenteeism—were also absent. These areas can give insight into school climate and daily experience, so their absence leaves an important part of the picture blank. Course access information, including Advanced Placement, dual enrollment, or career and technical programs, was not listed, meaning a family interested in specific academic pathways will need to inquire.
Melrose High sits within a wider Memphis community rich in cultural and recreational anchors. The city offers the National Civil Rights Museum, Graceland, Sun Studio, and the Stax Museum, alongside major parks such as Shelby Farms Park and Overton Park. Tom Lee Park downtown completed a major renovation several years ago. The Memphis Grizzlies play at FedExForum, and Beale Street remains a civic and music landmark. Public transit is provided by the Memphis Area Transit Authority. For families considering where to live, the affordability of the 38114 area stands out, but the lack of academic and school-level data makes it difficult to compare this high school to others in Shelby County or across the state.
What is missing here outweighs what is present. Melrose High has a clear demographic profile and a location in a historically significant, amenity-rich city, but without test results, graduation rates, or program offerings, a parent cannot yet answer basic questions about student achievement, college and career readiness, or school culture. The next step would be to speak with school staff, review the most recent Tennessee Department of Education report card for Melrose High, and visit the building to see the environment firsthand.
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