The top reported proficiency rate is 20% in Science. The lowest is 11% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Getwell Elementary
Getwell Elementary is a regular public school in Memphis, Tennessee, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of Memphis-Shelby County Schools, the large district covering Memphis and unincorporated Shelby County. The school sits on Getwell Road in the southern part of the city, in a residential area of modest postwar homes and apartment complexes. Housing in the ZIP code is among the most affordable in the metro area, with values well below both the state and national benchmarks, and rents that also run lower. The financial picture means a family with a typical income would face a manageable rent burden here, though home values have edged down slightly over the past year.
The student body is diverse. The largest group of students are Black, and a substantial share identify as Hispanic, with a much smaller white population and a very small number of students from other backgrounds. The school is a regular neighborhood elementary, not a charter or magnet, and serves a defined attendance zone. The enrollment is large enough to sustain multiple sections per grade.
On state assessments, student performance is low. In math, English language arts, and science, the share of students scoring proficient or above falls well below rates seen across the district and county. Among Memphis-Shelby County Schools elementary schools, the overall proficiency index sits near the low end. A parent looking at these numbers would see that the typical student is not reaching grade-level benchmarks. Given that participation rates on the tests were high, the results reflect the performance of nearly all enrolled students in tested grades. Social studies testing data is older and from a period before the state changed both the name of the test and the cut scores, so it is not directly comparable to current results.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Data on chronic absenteeism and discipline was not available, nor were figures on the share of students with disabilities or English learners. Similarly, information on free and reduced-price lunch eligibility, which would indicate the level of economic need in the building, was missing from the data. A parent may want to ask the school directly about these areas.
Because state assessment results are the main academic measure available, and they are low, a careful look at whether the school offers specific academic supports, interventions, or enrichment programs would be useful. The available data does not include a list of such programs. The school is in a large urban district that has been undergoing significant facilities and attendance zone changes in recent years, with a long-range planning process called Reimagining 901 that has led to school closures and consolidations. A parent should confirm the school's current operating status and whether any boundary changes are pending that might affect future enrollment.
Memphis itself offers a rich set of cultural and civic amenities, including the National Civil Rights Museum, FedExForum, the Memphis Zoo in Overton Park, and Shelby Farms Park. The Mississippi River is a defining feature of the city, and Tom Lee Park received a major renovation recently. These are community assets, but they are citywide, not specific to this neighborhood.
Getwell Elementary is a school where the core academic results are a clear concern and where the available data does not fill in the picture of student supports or school climate. A family considering this school would want to visit, talk to the principal about what is being done to address performance, and look into what programs, after-school options, and specialist teachers are in place. The school serves a high-need population in an affordable part of Memphis, but the academic record raises questions that only a direct conversation with the school can answer.
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