The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in Science. The lowest is 26% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Freedom Prep Elementary - Parkrose
Freedom Prep Elementary – Parkrose is a public charter school in Memphis serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It operates within the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district, a large urban system. The school’s enrollment is small for an elementary building serving that grade span, and the student body is predominantly Black, with a modest share of Hispanic students and very small numbers of white students and students of two or more races. Information on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, receive special education services, or are classified as English learners was not available; a parent interested in those support structures would need to ask the school directly.
On Tennessee’s TNReady state assessments, the school’s overall proficiency across math, English language arts, and science sits in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Shelby County. In math, about a quarter of students scored at or above the proficient level. In English language arts, the share was similar. Science proficiency was notably higher, approaching nearly half of students testing at proficient or above, which stands as a relative bright spot. Participation rates on all three tests were high, so the results reflect nearly all enrolled students. Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and course access measures such as Advanced Placement or dual-enrollment pathways do not apply at this level.
The school environment and governance data are limited. Freedom Prep Elementary – Parkrose is a charter school, which means it operates with some autonomy from the district while remaining publicly funded, but the payload does not include information on its specific instructional model, disciplinary practices, or staffing ratios. A parent may want to visit the school or speak with staff to understand its approach to classroom management, teacher turnover, and family engagement, as none of that is surfaced in the available data.
The housing market in the surrounding ZIP code offers home values well below both the state and national benchmarks, and prices have recently fallen. Rents are modest and have risen slightly, making the area relatively affordable compared to much of the region. The national unemployment rate, not a local figure, is also modestly elevated, but the data does not supply a local equivalent for this specific neighborhood. For a family considering this school, the cost of living is likely a factor that leans in their favor.
Memphis itself provides a broad set of civic and cultural resources. Tom Lee Park on the riverfront underwent a major renovation and now includes ballcourts, trails, and bike stands. Shelby Farms Park is one of the country’s largest urban parks, and Overton Park houses the Memphis Zoo and sits next to Rhodes College. Beale Street remains a central cultural corridor. The Memphis Area Transit Authority runs public bus service, with board members appointed by the mayor. The National Civil Rights Museum, Graceland, Sun Studio, and the Stax Museum are all within the city, and FedExForum hosts the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies. These are publicly available amenities any resident can access, though the school’s specific neighborhood context is not separately detailed in the data.
The district brief flags two topics, school closures related to a Reimagining 901 plan and a property tax referendum, but no substantive information about either was provided. A family may want to research whether boundary changes or budget pressures affect this particular school’s operations or long-term stability, as those district-level decisions can matter for a charter school that shares district oversight.
Freedom Prep Elementary – Parkrose presents as a small, primarily Black elementary charter with academic proficiency below the midpoint of Shelby County districts, strongest in science, and operating within a large urban district whose recent policy directions are not fully described in the available records. A parent choosing this school will likely want to explore the specific program, school culture, and support services not captured in the standard metrics.
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