The top reported proficiency rate is 21% in Science. The lowest is 17% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Oakland Elementary
Oakland Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in the fast-growing town of Oakland, Tennessee. The school is part of Fayette County Public Schools, a rural-to-suburban district that covers the county west of Memphis. Oakland itself has transformed over the past two decades from a small crossroads into one of the fastest-growing suburbs in the Memphis metropolitan area, driven by low taxes, the widening of US 64, and a wave of new single-family subdivisions. That growth has brought more families with young children, and Oakland Elementary reflects that shift in its enrollment and composition.
On state assessments, the school reports results for math, English language arts, and science. In all three subjects, the share of students scoring at the proficient level is well below the state average. Math proficiency is particularly low, and ELA and science results are similarly modest. Social studies data is available only from several years ago and under an older test format, so it is not directly comparable. The school’s participation rate on the tests is very high, which means the results are based on nearly all enrolled students in the tested grades. A parent looking at these numbers would want to ask what academic supports and interventions the school offers. The data does not include information about students receiving special education services or English learner support, so it is unclear how the school serves those populations or what share of the student body they represent.
The student body is racially and ethnically diverse. A little under half of the students are Black, about a third are white, and the remainder are Hispanic, multiracial, or from other backgrounds. This mix is common for schools in the fast-growing outer suburbs of Memphis, where new housing has attracted families from a range of backgrounds. The enrollment is moderate for an elementary school serving this grade span. Free and reduced-price lunch data was not available, so the economic profile of the student body is not directly reported, but the town’s median household income and home values are above the national median, suggesting a largely middle-class community, though the school could still draw from a range of incomes.
The school’s location is along US 64 north of the historic town center, in an area that has seen most of the recent residential development. Oakland has no public transit and is car-dependent, with most commuting happening by car to Memphis or other nearby job centers. The town’s commercial core is along the highway, and the school sits in a suburban residential setting. There is no public library branch in Oakland, and the county’s library services are based in Somerville, the county seat.
The district itself did not have any major recent changes reported that would affect families considering Oakland Elementary. The school is a standard elementary school with no magnet or charter status, and no Title I designation was provided. Because it only serves through fifth grade, there is no graduation rate or secondary course access to report. For parents looking at the academic picture, the proficiency numbers are the central fact: they suggest that many students are still developing foundational skills, and the school may be working to address that. Families who prioritize high test scores would want to investigate what instructional supports are in place. For families drawn to a growing, affordable suburb with a diverse student body and a newer housing stock, Oakland Elementary offers a neighborhood school option in a town that is still adding residents and building permits at a rapid pace.
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