Summary
Dunbar Elementary is a public elementary school in Memphis, Tennessee, serving 198 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district, which is ranked 135 out of 139 districts in the state.
Dunbar Elementary consistently ranks in the bottom 10% of Tennessee elementary schools, with proficiency rates on state assessments that are significantly lower than the district and state averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2024-2025, the school's proficiency rates in mathematics, English language arts, and science for all grades are around 17-18%, compared to the district's 22-24% and the state's 38-46%. The performance gaps are particularly pronounced in higher grade levels, with 5th-grade proficiency rates ranging from 12.8% in English language arts to 20.5% in mathematics, compared to the state's 40.7% and 47.1%, respectively. Additionally, Dunbar Elementary has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 18.9% to 29.5% over the past few years, significantly higher than the district and state averages.
While the nearby schools, such as Sharpe Elementary, Sherwood Elementary, and Bethel Grove Elementary, also struggle academically, some schools in the area, like Cherokee Elementary and Peabody Elementary, perform significantly better, with proficiency rates that are 10-20 percentage points higher than Dunbar Elementary across various subject areas and grade levels. This suggests that factors beyond just district and demographic characteristics may be at play, such as school leadership, instructional practices, and resource allocation.
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