The top reported proficiency rate is 23% in English language arts. The lowest is 8% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Robert R. Church Elementary
Robert R. Church Elementary is a regular public school in Memphis, part of Memphis-Shelby County Schools, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It sits in the southern part of the city near the intersection of Millbranch Road and East Raines Road, within a neighborhood of single-family homes and small apartment complexes. The school is not a charter or magnet, and its status for Title I funding was not reported in the available data.
State testing results for the most recent school year show that proficiency rates across math, English language arts, and science are low. In math, about one in eight students tested scored at the proficient or above level on the TNReady assessments. In ELA, roughly one in five students met that bar. In science, about one in six students reached proficiency. Social studies data is older (from several years ago) and shows a similarly low result; because the assessment and cut scores have changed since then, that figure is not directly comparable. Participation rates for the recent tests were high, above ninety-five percent, so the results reflect nearly the entire tested population. Overall, the school’s proficiency index sits in the bottom quarter when measured against other districts within Shelby County.
The student body is heavily composed of Black students, making up the vast majority of the enrollment. Small numbers of white, Hispanic, American Indian, and multiracial students are also present. The school enrolls about a mid-sized cohort for its grade band, with a pre-kindergarten program that feeds into kindergarten through fifth grade. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch was not available, so a family cannot easily gauge the level of economic need from the information provided. Similarly, counts for students with disabilities and English learners were missing, which is a gap a parent may want to explore directly with the school.
As an elementary school, Robert R. Church does not have a graduation rate or measures like chronic absenteeism that apply to older grades. Those metrics are not relevant here, and their absence is not a signal of weakness.
The school sits within the city of Memphis, a large urban center along the Mississippi River. Tom Lee Park downtown underwent a major renovation a few years ago, adding ballcourts, trails, and bike stands. Shelby Farms Park in East Memphis ranks among the largest urban parks in the country. Overton Park in midtown houses the Memphis Zoo and sits adjacent to Rhodes College. Beale Street remains a cultural anchor for the city. The Memphis Area Transit Authority runs the public bus system, with board members appointed by the mayor. Cultural landmarks such as the National Civil Rights Museum, Graceland, Sun Studio, and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music draw visitors from across the region. FedExForum downtown is home to the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies. The city’s public library system serves residents across Memphis.
No information was available about specific programs at the school, such as arts, music, or after-school offerings. The district’s recent activity includes a Reimagining 901 plan and discussions around school closures, but the data provided did not include details on outcomes or current initiatives, so that context remains incomplete.
For a family considering this school, the academic picture is clear: proficiency rates are well below the midpoint for the county. The student population is almost entirely Black, and the school serves the full elementary range with a pre-K program. Families who prioritize academic performance as measured by state tests will want to look into what supports and interventions the school offers, as the data reveals a challenging starting point. The surrounding city offers a wide array of parks, cultural institutions, and public transit, though the specific neighborhood context of the school is not described in the available information. Missing data on economic need, special education, and English learner services means a parent should ask the school directly about those areas to get a fuller picture.
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