The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in English language arts. The lowest is 10% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Fox Meadows Elementary
Fox Meadows Elementary is a regular public school in Memphis, part of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools system. It serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, drawing from the Fox Meadows neighborhood in the southeastern part of the city. The school enrolls a student body of several hundred children, typical for an elementary school in the district.
On state assessments, achievement is well below typical benchmarks. In math, about one in six students reached proficiency; in English language arts, roughly a quarter scored proficient. Science results were similarly low. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages results across all tested grades and subjects, places it in the bottom quartile relative to districts in Shelby County. Social studies data is from an older testing cycle and must be read cautiously, as the assessment and cut scores have changed since then. Nearly all students participated in testing, which is a positive sign for accountability but does not alter the performance picture. Families considering Fox Meadows should expect that the school faces significant academic challenges and may want to ask what targeted supports and interventions are in place.
The student population is predominantly Black, with a substantial Hispanic share and a very small number of white students and students of two or more races. Data on the share of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, students with disabilities, and English learners was not available in the records reviewed, so a parent seeking a full picture of the school’s support needs would do well to request this information directly. The school does not offer a magnet program or charter status; it is a straightforward zoned neighborhood school.
Housing in the Fox Meadows area is relatively affordable. Home values are well below the state median and the national median, and rents are also lower. For a family moving into the area, homeownership remains within reach compared with many parts of the country. The broader Memphis context includes a number of defining amenities: Tom Lee Park along the Mississippi River underwent a major renovation in recent years, Shelby Farms Park in East Memphis is one of the largest urban parks in the United States, and Overton Park houses the Memphis Zoo and sits next to Rhodes College. Beale Street, FedExForum, the National Civil Rights Museum, Graceland, Sun Studio, and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music anchor the city’s cultural identity. The Memphis Area Transit Authority provides public bus service. These are the kinds of resources families living near Fox Meadows can access.
The district itself, Memphis-Shelby County Schools, is a large urban system. Information about recent school closures or a proposed property tax referendum was not available at the time of this profile, so no district-level changes can be reported here.
Fox Meadows Elementary serves a high-need community with academic performance that lags significantly behind other Shelby County districts. For a parent who values a neighborhood school in an affordable part of Memphis and is prepared to engage actively with the school around academic support, it may be a viable option. For those seeking higher measured achievement or a more affluent peer context, it would not be a strong fit. The missing data on program offerings, student support staffing, and discipline means that a thorough visit and conversation with the principal would be essential before making a decision.
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