The top reported proficiency rate is 24% in Science. The lowest is 15% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Kipp Memphis Collegiate Middle
KIPP Memphis Collegiate Middle is a charter school serving grades six through eight in Memphis, Tennessee, within the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district. As a regular public school operating under a charter, it offers families an alternative to traditional district-run middle schools in the area. The school is located in the city's north side, a neighborhood where housing values are modest and rental costs are below the typical for the state, making this an economically accessible part of the city for many families. Memphis itself is a large city along the Mississippi River with major cultural institutions, parks, and public transit, though the school’s immediate context is one of the city’s older residential areas.
Academically, the school’s state testing results show that a minority of students reached the proficient level on Tennessee’s TNReady assessments. In math, roughly one in five students met that bar; in English language arts, the share was smaller. Science and social studies proficiency rates were similar, with about one in four achieving proficiency in science and one in five in social studies. The school’s overall academic performance, measured as a combined proficiency index across tested subjects, placed it in the bottom quartile when compared with other districts in Shelby County. This is a clear area of concern for a parent evaluating academic preparation, and it would be worth asking the school about its instructional strategies and any targeted interventions. The participation rates on state tests were essentially universal, so the results reflect the performance of nearly all enrolled students.
The student body draws almost entirely from the surrounding community and is predominantly Black, with small numbers of Hispanic, white, Asian, and multiracial students. The school enrolls around a few hundred students, making it a mid-sized middle school for its grade band. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, as well as special education and English learner counts, were not available in the records we reviewed, so a family should ask the school directly about the level of economic need and the types of specialized support available.
Because this is a middle school, there is no graduation rate to report. Likewise, information on discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, advanced coursework, and staffing ratios was not present in the data we received. That absence is not unusual for a middle school, but it does limit a full picture of student experience and school climate. The school’s charter status may allow it some flexibility in curriculum and operations, but the data do not describe any specific programmatic offerings.
The surrounding housing market has seen a modest decline in home values over the past year, and rental prices have held steady, which may affect enrollment stability if families move in search of more affordable areas. The school’s location within Memphis means it shares the city’s broader economic conditions, including an unemployment rate near the national average.
Overall, KIPP Memphis Collegiate Middle is a charter school in a district with a wide range of schools. Its academic results are low relative to other Shelby County districts, and a parent considering this school will likely want to understand what academic supports are in place and how the school works to accelerate achievement for its students. The school’s strong testing participation indicates a consistent assessment culture, but the outcomes suggest that many students are not yet meeting grade-level standards. The peer environment is shaped by a predominantly Black student body in a high-poverty urban setting, though the specific economic indicators for this school are not on record. Without program or staffing data, a family should visit the school and ask about class sizes, extracurriculars, and the school’s approach to middle school transitions.
See more original research from School Decision →