The top reported proficiency rate is 77% in Social studies. The lowest is 57% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Lakeland Preparatory School
Lakeland Preparatory School is a regular public school in Lakeland, Tennessee, serving grades five through ten. It is part of the Lakeland School District, a suburban Memphis system that formed its own district a number of years ago. The school sits in a primarily residential, affluent suburb that has been growing steadily. The built environment is car-dependent, with subdivisions and some commercial development along the Highway 70 corridor, and no traditional downtown.
On state assessments, the school posted proficiency rates that vary by subject. In science and social studies, a strong majority of students scored at the proficient level or above, and participation rates were very high across all tested subjects. In math and English language arts, a smaller majority of students met the proficient bar. When compared across districts in Shelby County, the school's overall proficiency index placed below the midpoint of the set. That index is the average of proficiency rates across tested subjects and grades, so the gap is primarily driven by the math and ELA results. A parent may want to discuss with the school what academic supports are available in those areas. Because the school does not serve grades eleven or twelve, there is no graduation rate to report.
The student body is large for its grade band, with enrollment spread fairly evenly across each grade from five through ten. The racial and ethnic composition is predominantly white, with sizeable Asian, Black, and Hispanic populations. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, and on students with disabilities or English learners, was not available for this school. The district does not report those figures in the source material, so a reader interested in those dimensions of the student profile would need to contact the school directly.
Housing in Lakeland is expensive relative to national and state benchmarks. Home values and rents are above the state median, and the area has seen slight year-over-year declines in both. The city is primarily made up of married-couple households with children, and the vacancy rate is very low, indicating a tight housing market. Families moving to the area should expect a competitive market for both buying and renting.
The district itself has undergone a significant change in recent years. It completed its own high school facility, which now serves grades nine through twelve. Prior to that, Lakeland students attended a neighboring district for high school. That gives families living in Lakeland a full PK-12 pathway within the district. This school, Lakeland Preparatory, covers the middle and early high school years, so students transition from the elementary school into this building and then into the separate high school building for the last two years. The district's expansion reflects the area's population growth and the community's investment in its own educational infrastructure.
For a family considering Lakeland, this school offers a strong performance in science and social studies, with room for inquiry around math and literacy outcomes. The setting is suburban and affluent, the student body is diverse in background, and the district now provides a complete K-12 journey. The lack of data on economic disadvantage and special education prevalence leaves some questions unanswered about the range of student needs the school supports. The housing market is a key consideration, as affordability is a challenge relative to much of the state. Overall, Lakeland Preparatory fits a family looking for a growing suburban district with a recently completed high school campus and a student body that performs above the state average in some subjects while falling slightly behind the county median in others.
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