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B. T. Washington High

Q: Is B. T. Washington High a good school?

B. T. Washington High ranks in the bottom 15.7% of Tennessee high schools.

Q: How many students attend B. T. Washington High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 436 students attended B. T. Washington High.

Q: What is the racial makeup of B. T. Washington High?

Students at B. T. Washington High are 98% African American, 2% Hispanic.

Q: What schools feed into B. T. Washington High?

B. T. Washington High is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Cummings Elementary/Middle Elementary : Larose Elementary

Public Grades 6-12

328^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 389 Tennessee High Schools

Better than 16% of Tennessee high schools

Summary

B. T. Washington High is a public high school located in Memphis, Tennessee, serving grades 6-12 with a total enrollment of 454 students. The school is part of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district, which is ranked 135 out of 139 districts in the state and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

B. T. Washington High consistently performs significantly below the district and state averages on standardized tests across all subject areas and grade levels. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, the school's proficiency rates ranged from 5.9% to 30% across various subjects and grades, compared to the district's 16.3% to 37.9% and the state's 23.5% to 61.1%. The school's performance has declined over the years, with its statewide ranking dropping from 138 out of 342 high schools in 2018-2019 to 328 out of 389 in 2024-2025. Additionally, the school has a four-year graduation rate of 89.2% in 2023-2024, which is slightly higher than the district average of 82.8% but still below the state average, and a consistently high dropout rate ranging from 6.7% to 19.1% over the past few years.

Interestingly, the nearby schools, such as Middle College High, Compass Community School Midtown Campus, and Medical District High School, generally outperform B. T. Washington High in academic achievement, graduation rates, and other key metrics, despite being part of the same district. This suggests that factors beyond just district-level policies and resources may be at play in the school's underperformance, which may be related to the school's predominantly low-socioeconomic student population and the unique challenges they face.

436

Students ?

11.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,605

Per pupil spending ?

96.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

715 S Lauderdale St
Memphis, TN 38126-3910

(901) 416-7240

District: Memphis-Shelby County Schools

Feeder schools for B. T. Washington High:

Elementary:	Cummings Elementary/Middle
	Larose Elementary

Racial breakdown:

African American:

97.7%

Hispanic:

1.6%

Two or more races:

0.7%

See top rated Tennessee high schools

Compare B. T. Washington High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 6th percentile in 2022 → 16th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 16th (2025) from a 6th-percentile low (2022)

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Tennessee average (10% vs 44% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (16th percentile)

!Graduation rate below the Tennessee average (81% vs 90%)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school10%

District avg25%

Tennessee avg44%

Middle school

582^nd of 583

Tennessee public middle schools ?

Bottom 1%▼ down 1 pts since 2018

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

328^th of 389

Tennessee public high schools ?

Bottom 16%▼ down 7 pts since 2016

From bottom 23% (2016) to bottom 16% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

23^rd of 42High Schools in the Memphis-Shelby County Schools

135^th of 139Memphis-Shelby County Schools among Tennessee districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	3.4	582 of 583	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	4.1	591 of 594	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	7.2	556 of 574	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	4.2	559 of 563	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	8.7	312 of 312	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	11.3	315 of 316	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	16.6	267 of 293	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	11.8	277 of 284	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	5.5	538 of 546	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	7.5	515 of 529	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	5.8	490 of 490	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	15.6	452 of 490	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	8.5	476 of 481	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	3.1	550 of 550	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	5.3	555 of 560	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	6.7	550 of 557	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	7.6	518 of 529	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	19.2	328 of 389	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.7	305 of 392	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.6	314 of 384	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	8.9	335 of 358	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	42.3	181 of 347	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	49.5	138 of 342	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	45.0	168 of 341	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2016	27.0	272 of 351	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	27.3	174 of 233	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	36.6	132 of 240	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	24.9	183 of 239	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.9	201 of 222	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	45.1	98 of 208	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	57.1	49 of 187	73.8%	★★★★☆
2018	60.3	44 of 199	77.9%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	20.8	310 of 365	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.5	297 of 365	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.3	284 of 366	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.2	309 of 350	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.2	260 of 340	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	62.1	84 of 337	75.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	19.9	284 of 324	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	42.9	181 of 337	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.2	170 of 330	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	16.4	293 of 322	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	33.6	218 of 317	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	76.0	24 of 302	92.1%	★★★★★
2018	50.3	107 of 308	65.3%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	16.2	325 of 368	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.7	242 of 366	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	23.2	285 of 359	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	56.0	104 of 329	68.4%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Middle school

Female (2025)1st percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)<1st percentile~ school

Male (2025)<1st percentile~ school

African American (2025)<1st percentile~ school

High school

African American (2025)25th percentile+10 vs school

Female (2025)15th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)12th percentile-3 vs school

Male (2025)12th percentile-4 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2024-2025) ?

Algebra II25%-10 vs state

Algebra I13%-16 vs state

English II9%-45 vs state

English I9%-31 vs state

Biology I8%-38 vs state

Science7%-39 vs state

English Language Arts6%-33 vs state

Social Studies6%-42 vs state

Mathematics6%-33 vs state

★

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Schools Near B. T. Washington High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				TNReady Mathematics (2025)				TNReady English Language Arts (2025)				TNReady Algebra I (2025)		TNReady Algebra II (2025)				TNReady Biology I (2025)				TNReady Integrated Math I (2025)		TNReady Integrated Math II (2025)			TNReady Integrated Math III (2025)			TNReady US History (2025)			TNReady English I (2025)		TNReady English II (2025)		TNReady Geometry (2025)				TNReady Science (2025)				TNReady Social Studies (2025)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	TNReady Mathematics 6th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 7th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	TNReady English Language Arts 6th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 7th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 8th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts All Grades	TNReady Algebra I 9th Grade	TNReady Algebra I All Grades	TNReady Algebra II 10th Grade	TNReady Algebra II 11th Grade	TNReady Algebra II 12th Grade	TNReady Algebra II All Grades	TNReady Biology I 9th Grade	TNReady Biology I 10th Grade	TNReady Biology I 11th Grade	TNReady Biology I All Grades	TNReady Integrated Math I 9th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math I All Grades	TNReady Integrated Math II 9th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math II 10th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math II All Grades	TNReady Integrated Math III 10th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math III 11th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math III All Grades	TNReady US History 10th Grade	TNReady US History 11th Grade	TNReady US History All Grades	TNReady English I 9th Grade	TNReady English I All Grades	TNReady English II 10th Grade	TNReady English II All Grades	TNReady Geometry 9th Grade	TNReady Geometry 10th Grade	TNReady Geometry 11th Grade	TNReady Geometry All Grades	TNReady Science 6th Grade	TNReady Science 7th Grade	TNReady Science 8th Grade	TNReady Science All Grades	TNReady Social Studies 6th Grade	TNReady Social Studies 7th Grade	TNReady Social Studies 8th Grade	TNReady Social Studies All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
B. T. Washington High	Public	6-12	715 S Lauderdale St	Memphis	38126	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-7240	454	40	11.3		0 (0.0%)	444 (97.8%)	6 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.9%)	19.2	328^th of 389 public high schools	15.7%		24.7	305^th of 392 public high schools	22.2%	23		5.9			6.5				13.2	13.0		30.0	5.9	24.6			9.8	8.2												8.7	8.7	9.5	9.4					10.9			7.2	6.5	5.9	6.9	6.5	$17,605	$1,757	$14,389
Medical District High School	Public	9-12	737 Union AVE	Memphis	38103	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	No	(901) 416-9698	111	10	11.5		5 (4.5%)	89 (80.2%)	13 (11.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.6%)	65.1	93^rd of 389 public high schools	76.1%		80.8	38^th of 392 public high schools	90.3%	55									25.7	25.7		38.1		40.0	52.5			52.5												52.5	52.5	73.3	73.3		30.8		35.5									$16,088	$1,046	$14,676
Hollis F. Price Middle College	Public	9-12	807 Walker Ave	Memphis	38126	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 435-1765	105	10	10.9		0 (0.0%)	96 (91.4%)	6 (5.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.9%)	35.1	246^th of 389 public high schools	36.8%		26.3	295^th of 392 public high schools	24.7%	49									12.5	12.5				8.1	34.6			35.7												30.8	30.8	58.6	58.6			16.7	16.7									$22,539	$1,300	$20,872
Soulsville Charter School	Public, Charter	6-12	1115 College ST	Memphis	38106	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(901) 261-6366	656	59	11.0		1 (0.2%)	633 (96.5%)	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (2.7%)	20	322^nd of 389 public high schools	17.2%		24.5	307^th of 392 public high schools	21.7%	15	17.1	14.9	17.7	16.6	14.0	12.6	14.6	13.8							13.2	18.8		14.7				20.2	20.2	60.0	6.5	16.9				10.5	10.5	40.4	40.0					19.8	27.1	14.3	20.3	15.9	43.8	30.9	29.7	$18,101	$1,463	$15,785
Central High	Public, Magnet	9-12	306 S Bellevue Blvd	Memphis	38104	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(901) 416-4500	1,300	79	16.4		45 (3.5%)	1,086 (83.5%)	99 (7.6%)	13 (1.0%)	3 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	54 (4.2%)	22.1	317^th of 389 public high schools	18.5%		20.3	324^th of 392 public high schools	17.3%	7									11.5	11.1	32.4	10.0		14.7	63.2	20.6	10.5	31.8											6.1	20.9	20.9	44.7	43.6	42.1	9.9	21.4	13.1									$12,857	$1,348	$10,898
Memphis Academy Of Science Engineering Middle/High	Public, Charter	6-12	1254 Jefferson AVE	Memphis	38104	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(901) 333-1580	696	48	14.4		1 (0.1%)	633 (90.9%)	47 (6.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (2.2%)	16.1	342^nd of 389 public high schools	12.1%		18.7	330^th of 392 public high schools	15.8%	12	19.4	9.1	28.6	18.6	20.8	10.2	10.3	13.4	7.1	7.1	7.7	5.8		5.4	33.3	13.7		18.1									21.1	38.5	24.2	18.4	18.4	39.6	39.1		7.6		11.5	22.2	12.4	25.0	19.4	38.0	21.6	34.7	30.8	$17,299	$1,623	$15,310
Crosstown High School	Public, Charter	9-12	1365 Tower AVE	Memphis	38104	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(901) 401-5505	499	36	13.7		153 (30.7%)	266 (53.3%)	57 (11.4%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.0%)	54.9	150^th of 389 public high schools	61.4%		57.4	133^rd of 392 public high schools	66.1%	17																38.7		37.6	14.3	14.3	92.3	25.5	33.6	80.0	28.6	39.5				31.2	31.2	71.0	71.0													$14,982	$1,175	$13,440
Hamilton High	Public	9-12	1363 E Person Ave	Memphis	38106	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-7838	647	32	20.4		1 (0.2%)	592 (91.5%)	34 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (3.1%)	5.2	388^th of 389 public high schools	0.3%		10.2	366^th of 392 public high schools	6.6%	22																	7.4	5.5														9.4	8.5													$14,949	$2,304	$11,585
Compass Community School Midtown Campus	Public, Charter	9-12	61 N. McLean BLVD	Memphis	38104	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(901) 276-1221	356	31	11.6		10 (2.8%)	115 (32.3%)	221 (62.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.5%)	37.8	229^th of 389 public high schools	41.1%		33.2	263^rd of 392 public high schools	32.9%	34									10.5	10.5		20.9		21.8			37.2	37.5										30.6	30.3	15.2	15.2	54.5	54.5		32.1		31.7									$13,992	$1,421	$12,205
Manassas High	Public	9-12	1111 N Manassas St	Memphis	38107	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-3244	362	16	22.9		4 (1.1%)	338 (93.4%)	7 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.3%)	14.9	345^th of 389 public high schools	11.3%		13.4	353^rd of 392 public high schools	9.9%	8											8.2	9.1		8.0		12.9		11.7														15.6	15.7		23.5	23.2	22.1									$16,426	$1,954	$13,219

Frequently Asked Questions about B. T. Washington High

What district is B. T. Washington High in?

Memphis-Shelby County Schools

What is the racial makeup of B. T. Washington High?

Students at B. T. Washington High are 98% African American, 2% Hispanic.

Is B. T. Washington High a good school?

B. T. Washington High ranks in the bottom 15.7% of Tennessee high schools.

What schools feed into B. T. Washington High?

B. T. Washington High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Cummings Elementary/Middle
Elementary : Larose Elementary

How many students attend B. T. Washington High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 436 students attended B. T. Washington High.

Rate B. T. Washington High!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Tennessee Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.