The top reported proficiency rate is 17% in Math. The lowest is 10% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Dunbar Elementary
This is Dunbar Elementary in Memphis, a regular public school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade in the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district. The school is in a city with a dense set of civic anchors: the Mississippi River, Tom Lee Park with its recent renovation, Beale Street, the National Civil Rights Museum, and major cultural sites including Graceland and Sun Studio. Public transit is available through the Memphis Area Transit Authority.
The student body is tiny for a school with this grade span. Of roughly that enrollment, nearly every student is Black. Very small numbers of Hispanic and white children attend. Data on students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, students with disabilities, and English learners were not reported, so a parent would need to ask the school directly about the share of students receiving support services and the level of special education staffing.
State testing data from the most recent school year shows that proficiency rates in math, English language arts, and science all sit well below the district average. In math and ELA, about one in six students scored at or above the state’s proficient level. In science, the figure is slightly lower. Testing participation was high, so the results reflect the full tested population. Social studies data is older and from a different assessment, so it is not comparable to current results. When placed against other schools in Memphis-Shelby County Schools and across Shelby County, Dunbar’s overall proficiency index lands in the bottom quarter of the county’s districts. This is a consistent pattern: the school serves a student population that faces significant academic challenges.
Because Dunbar Elementary does not include high school grades, there is no graduation rate to examine. The school’s performance on state tests is the primary academic measure available.
The housing market around the school is one of the more affordable segments within the Memphis area. Home values are well below the state and national benchmarks and have softened recently. Rents are also below area averages. This combination of lower housing costs and below-proficient test scores is common in neighborhoods where families have fewer resources to supplement school instruction through tutoring, enrichment, or private school options.
There was no publicly reported information about the school’s program offerings, course access, or staffing ratios. A family considering Dunbar would want to ask about what academic interventions are in place for students who are below grade level, what enrichment or arts programs exist, and how the school supports early literacy and math foundations in the primary grades. The school has a small enrollment, which can mean more individual attention from staff, but it also can mean fewer specialist teachers or elective opportunities.
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools district has been in the news for discussions about school closures and a plan called Reimagining 901, as well as a property tax referendum. A parent should be aware that the district’s footprint and school choices could shift in the coming years.
This is a school where the academic landscape is clear: measured proficiency is low, and the surrounding district context includes ongoing financial and operational challenges. For a family that values a neighborhood school with a small, predominantly Black student body and very affordable housing, Dunbar Elementary is a straightforward option. For a family seeking a school where most students meet state standards, the test results indicate this is not that school. A parent would be wise to visit, talk to the principal about instructional support, and find out what the school is doing to raise achievement.
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