The top reported proficiency rate is 32% in Social studies. The lowest is 17% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Circles of Success Learning Academy
Circles Of Success Learning Academy is a public charter school in Memphis serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of Memphis-Shelby County Schools, a large district where the school is one option among many. The school draws from Memphis, a city defined by the Mississippi River, with anchors like Beale Street, the National Civil Rights Museum, and a downtown riverfront park that saw a major renovation a few years ago. Shelby Farms Park and Overton Park are notable regional amenities, and the city's public library system and bus authority serve residents.
The school is small for an elementary school, with enrollment in the low hundreds spread across kindergarten through fifth grade. The student body is nearly entirely Black, a composition that reflects the immediate neighborhood but is notably less diverse than the county as a whole. Data on how many students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are English learners was not available. A parent might want to ask the school directly about its support for students with disabilities and English learners, as the state-required information on these populations was not reported in the available data.
State test results from the most recent year show proficiency rates well below both the district and state averages in math, English language arts, and science. The school's composite proficiency across tested subjects placed it in the bottom quartile among districts in Shelby County. In math, about one in five students scored at or above the proficient level. In English language arts, that figure was roughly one in four. In science, it was about one in six. Social studies results come from an older testing year with a different assessment and cutoff scores, making them difficult to compare directly, though they were also low. Participation rates on the tests were high, so the results reflect the full student body, not a selective group.
The school itself is a regular elementary charter school, not a magnet or alternative program. Charter status means it operates with some autonomy from the district but remains publicly funded and open to all students. No data was available on course access, staffing ratios, or discipline, so it is not possible to assess class size, teacher experience, or the school climate from the available information. The district has publicly discussed school closures and property tax questions in recent years, but the data did not include any details about how that has affected this particular school.
Housing in the school's immediate Zip code area is affordable relative to the national market. Home values are well below the national median and have declined in recent months. Rent is also below the national figure and has been stable. For a family considering the neighborhood, the cost of entry is low, but the value trajectory is negative.
For a family weighing this school, the central fact is the academic performance. The state testing numbers are low across the board, and the school sits at the bottom of the county comparison. The school is small, serves only elementary grades, and is a charter, which may appeal to families looking for a school with a specific mission or more flexibility than a traditional district school. But the available academic data does not show a pathway to strong outcomes for most students, and missing information on special populations and staffing makes it hard to gauge the school's capacity to address learning gaps or provide targeted support. A parent considering this school would likely want to visit, ask about academic interventions, and understand how the school is working to raise proficiency from its current level.
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