The top reported proficiency rate is 14% in English language arts. The lowest is 9% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Alcy Elementary
Alcy Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Memphis, Tennessee, as part of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet school. The school is located in the 38114 zip code, an area where the typical home value and rent are well below both state and national benchmarks. The local housing market has recently seen home values decline while rents have risen, a combination that families considering a move to the neighborhood may want to examine.
The student body is predominantly Black, with a smaller Hispanic population and very small numbers of white and multiracial students. Most families in the surrounding area rent rather than own their homes. Free or reduced-price meal data was not available, which is a gap that often reflects the school’s setting in a district with high economic need. The school’s enrollment is large for an elementary school serving PK through fifth grade.
On the Tennessee TNReady assessments for the most recent year, Alcy Elementary’s proficiency rates in math, English language arts, and science are all well below what most families would consider typical. The proficiency index—the average across tested subjects—places the school in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Shelby County. A very small share of students scored at the proficient or advanced level in any subject. The participation rate on the assessments was very high, so these results reflect the performance of nearly all enrolled students. Social studies data from prior years was not available for comparison.
This is a school in a district that, as publicly reported, has undergone significant structural changes in recent years. The district pursued a plan called Reimagining 901, which involved school closures and consolidations. It also sought a property tax referendum to increase local funding. These shifts are part of a broader effort to address declining enrollment and financial pressures across Memphis-Shelby County Schools. A parent considering Alcy Elementary may want to ask the school or district how these changes have affected the school directly, including any impacts on staffing, program offerings, or building conditions.
Memphis itself is a large city with deep cultural roots. The Mississippi River defines its geography. Downtown, Tom Lee Park underwent a major renovation in recent years and now offers ballcourts, trails, and bike stands. Shelby Farms Park in East Memphis is among the largest urban parks in the country, and Overton Park in midtown houses the Memphis Zoo. Beale Street, the National Civil Rights Museum, Graceland, Sun Studio, and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music are major civic and cultural landmarks. The FedExForum hosts the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies. The Memphis Area Transit Authority provides public bus service, with board members appointed by the mayor. The Memphis Public Libraries system serves residents across the city.
For a family or resident evaluating Alcy Elementary, the central fact is that academic performance as measured by state tests is very low. A parent who values a neighborhood school and wants their child close to home will find a large, predominantly Black student body in a city with abundant parks, cultural institutions, and public transit. A parent whose priority is high academic attainment on standardized measures may find that this school’s current results do not align with that goal. Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to evaluate. The absence of special population counts, such as students with disabilities or English learners, is another gap a parent may want to discuss with the school to understand the full picture of student support.
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