Original Research by School Decision on The Excel Center
The Excel Center is a regular public high school in Memphis, part of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district. It serves grades nine through twelve. The school enrolls a few hundred students, with a student body that is predominantly Black and substantially Hispanic, with small numbers of White students and students of other racial backgrounds. Free or reduced-price meal eligibility data was not reported, nor were counts of students with disabilities or English learners, so a family looking for a sense of the school’s economic or special education profile will need to ask directly.
This is a school for which nearly all common academic performance measures are missing. State testing results were not available, and a four-year graduation rate was not reported. Chronic absenteeism data was also absent. Because of these gaps, it is not possible to place The Excel Center’s academic outcomes relative to other high schools in Shelby County. A parent evaluating this school should contact the school or the district to learn about its curriculum, student outcomes, and any alternative pathways it may offer. The school’s grade band and the fact that it is a regular school suggest that these data should exist; their absence here may reflect reporting limitations rather than school performance, but it leaves an incomplete picture.
The school is located in the southern part of Memphis, in a ZIP code with very affordable housing. Home values in the area are well below national and state benchmarks and have fallen notably over the past year. Rents are modest. The broader Memphis housing market, while inexpensive relative to the country, has been soft, and the ZIP code where the school sits is among the most affordable parts of the city. Many families in the area may rent. The national unemployment rate has been steady at a moderate level, and mortgage rates have been in the mid-six percent range.
Memphis itself offers many cultural and civic amenities. Tom Lee Park along the Mississippi River underwent a major renovation, adding ballcourts, trails, and bike stands. Shelby Farms Park is one of the largest urban parks in the United States. Overton Park houses the Memphis Zoo. Beale Street remains a cultural anchor, and landmarks like the National Civil Rights Museum, Graceland, Sun Studio, and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music draw visitors year-round. The Memphis Area Transit Authority provides public bus service, with board members appointed by the mayor. FedExForum is home to the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies.
This school is part of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district, the largest in Tennessee. We looked for recent district developments such as school closures or property tax referendums but found no specific information to include. A family considering The Excel Center will need to gather more information directly, especially about academic performance, graduation rates, and student supports, since the available data does not provide a clear picture of what this high school offers its students.
See more original research from School Decision →