The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in Science. The lowest is 15% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Memphis School of Excellence Elementary
Memphis School of Excellence Elementary is a public charter school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Memphis, Tennessee, operating as part of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district. It is a regular elementary school with a charter status, meaning it is publicly funded but independently run under a charter agreement. The school is located on South Mendenhall Road in a residential area of Memphis.
Academically, the school’s state assessment results sit well below the countywide average. On Tennessee’s TNReady tests, the share of students scoring proficient or above in both math and reading was modest, and science proficiency was higher but still below the midpoint among tested schools in the county. The school’s overall proficiency index, which combines all tested subjects and grades, places it in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Shelby County. Parents considering this school may want to discuss with the administration what academic supports and interventions are in place, particularly for students who are not yet meeting state benchmarks. The school achieved full participation on all three assessments, so the results reflect nearly the entire tested student body.
Enrollment at Memphis School of Excellence Elementary is around the size typical of an elementary school serving these grades. The student body is composed primarily of Hispanic and Black students, with a very small number of white students and even fewer from other racial backgrounds. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the provided information; families with children in those categories may wish to ask the school directly about services and staffing levels. Free or reduced-price meal eligibility data was also not reported, so the economic profile of the families is not clear from this source.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. No information was available on programs such as gifted education, art, music, or after-school offerings. Given that the school is a charter, its academic program may differ from that of traditional public elementary schools in the district; a parent investigating this school would want to learn about the school’s instructional model, curriculum choices, and any enrichment activities.
Memphis itself is a large city with a rich cultural and civic landscape. The Mississippi River defines the city’s geography. Parks such as Tom Lee Park, Shelby Farms Park, and Overton Park offer recreation and green space. Cultural institutions include the National Civil Rights Museum, Graceland, Sun Studio, the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, and FedExForum, home of the Memphis Grizzlies. The Memphis Area Transit Authority provides bus service, and the city’s mayor appoints members to its board. The city’s library system, parks, and civic infrastructure are well-documented in public sources.
In the surrounding housing market, home values in the ZIP code are below the state average, and rents have seen a slight decline year over year. The area is more affordable than many parts of Tennessee, though the national economic context of elevated mortgage rates and rising rental costs applies here as well.
No recent district-level changes, such as school closures or property tax referendums, were detailed in the available records, so that context is not included here. For the most current picture, a parent would want to check for any updates from Memphis-Shelby County Schools or from the school’s own leadership.
Memphis School of Excellence Elementary offers a public charter option in a city with a wide range of schools. Its academic results suggest a school in the early stages of its performance trajectory, and families may want to investigate how the school plans to raise proficiency levels over time. The student body is diverse, and the charter structure may appeal to families seeking an alternative to the district’s traditional elementary schools.
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