Middle Schools in Memphis-Shelby County Schools

The 32 middle schools in Memphis-Shelby County Schools serve grades 6-8 (with Mt. Pisgah Middle/High School serving 6-9 and Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory Charter School serving 5-8) and operate within a district that ranks 137th out of 141 Tennessee districts, placing it in the bottom 3% statewide.

Two schools stand out dramatically from the rest. Maxine Smith STEAM Academy is the district's only 5-star middle school, ranking 28th out of 594 Tennessee middle schools. It is the only MSCS middle school exceeding the state average in math (60.7% vs. 43.0%), and it also exceeds state averages in ELA, science, and social studies - all while spending $12,546 per student, below the district average of $14,332. White Station Middle School is the strongest traditional zoned school, earning 4 stars with a 77th-percentile rank, and it has a low chronic absenteeism rate of 12.4%. Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory Charter School is a notable charter bright spot, with science proficiency approaching the state average.

However, the remaining roughly 90% of schools are struggling. 29 of 32 schools have 0 or 1 star, and the average school-level proficiency is far below state averages in every subject (17.7% math vs. 43.0% state; 17.4% ELA vs. 40.6% state). Chronic absenteeism averages 24.4%, ranging from 5.5% at Georgian Hills Middle School to a staggering 63.3% at Grandview Heights Middle School. Spending does not align with outcomes: Veritas College Preparatory School spends the most at $19,447 per student yet has only 10.2% math proficiency, while Power Center Academy Middle School - Southeast spends the least at $10,566 and outperforms many higher-spending schools. On a positive note, Algebra I proficiency at Maxine Smith (94.4%), Craigmont Middle School (71.4%), Colonial Middle School (64.3%), and Cordova Middle School (61.1%) shows advanced math success is possible, but it currently reaches only a select group of 8th graders.