The top reported proficiency rate is 21% in Social studies. The lowest is 7% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Believe Memphis Academy Charter School
Believe Memphis Academy Charter School serves kindergarten through eighth grade as a regular public charter school in Memphis, part of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district. The student body is overwhelmingly Black, which is characteristic of the school's immediate neighborhood. Enrollment is relatively small for a school serving eight grade levels, and in the grade span for which data is available, the school tested several hundred students across all four subjects, indicating that most enrolled students participate in state testing.
The core academic results are the primary thing to understand here. On the state's TNReady assessments, the share of students scoring proficient or advanced was in the low single digits in math, just below one in ten in English language arts, barely above one in ten in science, and roughly one in five in social studies. Participation rates were high, so these results reflect nearly the full student body. When placed against other districts in Shelby County, the school's overall proficiency index lands in the bottom quartile. These are low attainment levels by any measure, and a parent considering this school would want to have a direct conversation with the school leadership about what academic supports are in place and what trajectory they see.
The school is a charter, meaning it operates with some autonomy from the district's central administration but remains accountable to its authorizer. Because it serves only through eighth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. The school environment and access data section did not supply information on discipline, course access, staffing, or attendance, so those areas cannot be characterized here.
Memphis is a large, culturally rich city. The Mississippi River runs through its identity. Residents have access to Tom Lee Park, which reopened after a major renovation, as well as Shelby Farms Park and Overton Park. Beale Street, the National Civil Rights Museum, Graceland, Sun Studio, and the Stax Museum are all well-known landmarks. The Memphis Grizzlies play at FedExForum downtown. The Memphis Area Transit Authority provides public bus service, with board members appointed by the mayor. The public library system serves the city.
Housing values in the school's zip code are well below both Tennessee and national benchmarks, and home values have been declining recently. Rents are also down slightly. This is an affordable area relative to the wider market, which may be a factor for families weighing school options.
For a family, the central question is whether the school's academic support structure is a fit. The test scores are very low, and there is no publicly available data on special education or English learner populations to add context. A parent would need to visit the school, ask about intervention strategies, and assess whether the environment and approach match their child's needs. The school's small size and charter status could mean a more tight-knit community than larger district schools, but the academic data makes clear that this is a school where a family should not assume grade-level proficiency without actively investigating what is being done to build it.
See more original research from School Decision →