The top reported proficiency rate is 22% in Social studies. The lowest is 9% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Granville T. Woods Academy of Innovation Charter School
Granville T. Woods Academy of Innovation Charter School serves kindergarten through eighth grade in Memphis, Tennessee, as a charter school within the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district. The school is named for the African American inventor known for his work in railway telegraphy and electrical engineering, an identity that signals an emphasis on innovation.
The student body is composed primarily of Black students, with a smaller share of Hispanic students and a very small number of white students and students of two or more races. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, special education services, and English learner support was not available in the source materials. The school is a regular public charter school, not a magnet or alternative school.
On the Tennessee state assessments for the most recent school year, proficiency rates across tested subjects were modest. In math, about a share of students scored at the proficient or above level that was well below the median across the county's districts. English language arts proficiency was at a similar level. Science proficiency was lower, and social studies proficiency was somewhat higher but still limited. Compared with other schools in the district and county, Granville T. Woods Academy placed in the bottom quartile for overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. Participation rates on the assessments were very high, which means the results reflect nearly all enrolled students. The school does not serve high school grades, so no graduation rate applies, and data on chronic absenteeism was not available.
Families considering this school should weigh these performance levels against the school's foundation as a charter serving a population of students who live in a large urban district. Memphis itself offers substantial civic and cultural resources. The downtown riverfront Tom Lee Park underwent a major renovation in 2023 and now includes ballcourts, trails, and bike stands. Shelby Farms Park in East Memphis is one of the largest urban parks in the United States. Overton Park in midtown houses the Memphis Zoo. Beale Street is a historic cultural anchor. The National Civil Rights Museum, Graceland, Sun Studio, and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music are all within the city. The Memphis Area Transit Authority provides public bus service. The Mississippi River is a defining geographic feature, and FedExForum downtown hosts the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies. These are publicly reported features of the community, not school-specific programs.
The school is located on Austin Peay Highway in Memphis, a setting within the broader Shelby County area. The housing market in the zip code around the school shows home values below the state and national averages, with a modest year-over-year decline. Rents are also below the national benchmark. The affordability picture for a typical household, using national income and mortgage rate figures, is such that renting is less expensive than buying a median-priced home in this area, meaning a typical family might find renting more manageable than a mortgage.
A parent or resident looking at this school will find a small charter school with a focused grade band, a student population that is predominantly Black, and academic results that are lower than most other districts in Shelby County across tested subjects. The available data does not include information on program offerings, course access, staffing ratios, or discipline patterns, so families would want to ask the school directly about those areas to get a fuller sense of what the school provides beyond assessment results.
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