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Downtown Elementary School

Q: Is Downtown Elementary School a good school?

Downtown Elementary School ranks in the bottom 6.8% of Tennessee elementary schools.

Q: How many students attend Downtown Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 784 students attended Downtown Elementary School.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Downtown Elementary School?

Students at Downtown Elementary School are 91% African American, 3% Two or more races, 2% White, 2% Hispanic.

Q: What schools do graduates of Downtown Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Downtown Elementary School usually go on to attend: High : Manassas High School

Public, Magnet Grades PK, KG-5

950^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,019 Tennessee Elementary Schools

Better than 7% of Tennessee elementary schools

Summary

Downtown Elementary School is a large PK–5 public school in downtown Memphis, TN, serving 784 students as part of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district, and it currently ranks in the 7th percentile of Tennessee elementary schools—though it did not always perform this way, having ranked in the 54th–62nd percentile as recently as 2018–19.

Academically, Downtown's math and science scores are its biggest challenges: in 2025–26, just 14.0% of students were proficient in math and 15.7% in science, both well below district averages (22.1% and 28.4%) and far behind state averages (43.0% and 46.9%). English language arts is a relative bright spot—22.3% proficiency is close to the district's 24.6%—and in 2024–25, Downtown's ELA score actually beat the district average by 6.5 points, with 4th grade ELA matching the district average in 2025–26. Nearby Perea Elementary offers a striking comparison: Perea ranks in the 42nd percentile with ELA proficiency of 55.7%, science of 41.2%, and math of 24.9%, while spending more per student ($17,079 vs. $13,875). However, Downtown is not the lowest-performing school in its area—it outperforms Cummings Elementary/Middle School, Memphis Delta Preparatory School, A.B. Hill Elementary School, and Larose Elementary School in multiple subjects.

Attendance is another notable story: 33.2% of Downtown students were chronically absent in 2024–25, which is high versus the state's 18.3% but actually better than most nearby schools, including KIPP Memphis Collegiate Elementary (51.7%) and Bruce Elementary (43.1%). The most pressing concern is special education: Downtown ranks in the 3rd percentile statewide for outcomes serving special education students, and low-income students rank in the 12th percentile. The school has shown it can improve—it was beating district averages in all three core subjects in 2022–23—so the key going forward is reversing the post-2019 slide, especially in math and science, and making sure effective literacy instruction in 4th grade carries through to 5th.

784

Students ?

17.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,875

Per pupil spending ?

61.9%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

10 N 4th St
Memphis, TN 38103

(901) 416-8400

District: Memphis-Shelby County Schools

Racial breakdown:

African American:

91.3%

Two or more races:

3.4%

White:

2.4%

See top rated Tennessee elementary schools

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 43rd percentile in 2017 → 7th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Tennessee average (17% vs 43% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (7th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (33% vs 18% Tennessee)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school17%

District avg25%

Tennessee avg43%

950^th of 1,019

Tennessee public elementary schools ?

Bottom 7%▼ down 36 pts since 2017

From bottom 43% (2017) to bottom 7% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

92^nd of 120Elementary Schools in the Memphis-Shelby County Schools

137^th of 141Memphis-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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	8.6	950 of 1019	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	17.9	861 of 1009	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	10.4	947 of 1018	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	19.9	825 of 1020	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.9	867 of 1000	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	11.7	887 of 983	9.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	48.4	457 of 985	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	55.8	377 of 997	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	43.6	371 of 646	42.6%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	18.8	425 of 498	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	35.5	320 of 498	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	21.2	418 of 498	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	35.0	298 of 500	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	29.7	330 of 483	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	24.4	315 of 411	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	70.3	82 of 404	79.7%	★★★★☆
2018	76.1	64 of 450	85.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	16.2	861 of 986	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	9.8	936 of 990	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	20.6	803 of 989	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.2	860 of 975	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	14.7	821 of 945	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	54.5	375 of 926	59.5%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	19.5	723 of 823	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	27.4	684 of 843	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.5	792 of 853	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	28.4	666 of 865	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.9	688 of 858	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	14.8	780 of 823	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	72.6	107 of 821	87.0%	★★★★☆
2018	68.9	152 of 877	82.7%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	21.0	822 of 984	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	12.8	912 of 991	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	23.7	771 of 987	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.2	804 of 980	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	8.6	908 of 941	3.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	41.1	536 of 916	41.5%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	16.6	620 of 641	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Male (2025)16th percentile~ school

African American (2026)15th percentile+8 vs school

Female (2025)13th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)12th percentile+5 vs school

Special Education (2026)3rd percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts22%-18 vs state

Science16%-31 vs state

Mathematics14%-29 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, September 12, 2018

CONGRATULATIONS and well done!!! Downtown Elementary, on your recent scorecard 4.63 over 5. Close Quote

by a parent
Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Amazing facilities and good classes Close Quote

Schools Near Downtown Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				TNReady Mathematics (2026)							TNReady English Language Arts (2026)							TNReady Science (2026)							TNReady Social Studies (2026)				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	Directly certified (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	TNReady Mathematics 3rd Grade	TNReady Mathematics 4th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 5th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 6th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 7th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	TNReady English Language Arts 3rd Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 4th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 5th Grade	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 Science 3rd Grade	TNReady Science 4th Grade	TNReady Science 5th Grade	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
Downtown Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	10 N 4th St	Memphis	38103	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(901) 416-8400	762	44	17.3	61.9%	19 (2.5%)	701 (92.0%)	11 (1.4%)	3 (0.4%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (3.3%)	8.6	950^th of 1019 public elementary schools	6.8%		17.9	861^st of 1009 public elementary schools	14.7%	89	8.7	15.2	18.4				14.0	18.6	32.3	14.6				22.3	13.7	19.2	13.6				15.7					$13,875	$1,496	$11,448
Larose Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	864 Willoughby Street	Memphis	38126	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-7848	316	17	18.5	78.9%	0 (0.0%)	307 (97.2%)	5 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.3%)	5.9	989^th of 1019 public elementary schools	2.9%		4.4	1000^th of 1009 public elementary schools	0.9%	11	8.9	6.5	14.9				10.1	14.0	8.7	14.9				12.7	17.2	< 5%	19.1				13.9					$16,651	$1,606	$13,802
KIPP Memphis Collegiate Elementary School	Public, Charter	K-5	230 Henry Avenue	Memphis	38107	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(901) 791-9391	444	30	15.0	78.2%	2 (0.5%)	418 (94.1%)	21 (4.7%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	18.1	872^nd of 1019 public elementary schools	14.4%		24.8	795^th of 1009 public elementary schools	21.2%	77	37.9	20.0	21.7				26.0	25.8	16.3	19.1				20.1	36.4	32.5	21.7				30.2					$13,662	$1,518	$11,777
Bruce Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	581 S Bellevue Blvd	Memphis	38104	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-4495	481	33	14.7	62.5%	9 (1.9%)	402 (83.6%)	54 (11.2%)	8 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	7 (1.5%)	17	878^th of 1019 public elementary schools	13.8%		12.5	915^th of 1009 public elementary schools	9.3%	37	19.4	14.3	40.8				23.5	20.9	22.2	24.0				22.2	26.9	23.4	36.0				28.2					$15,528	$1,613	$12,743
Ida B. Wells Academy Elementary School/Middle School	Public	K-8	995 S Lauderdale St	Memphis	38126	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-3210	98	16	6.1	83.8%	0 (0.0%)	94 (95.9%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.1%)	33.2	719^th of 1019 public elementary schools	29.4%		15.7	877^th of 1009 public elementary schools	13.1%	158				40.0	18.2	25.0	26.8				13.3	36.4	8.3	31.0				33.3	27.3	25.0	32.9	40.0	72.7	16.7	49.0	$29,906	$1,375	$27,032
Caldwell-Guthrie School	Public	PK, KG-8	951 Chelsea Avenue	Memphis	38107	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(901) 416-5300	0			73.6%								3	1016^th of 1019 public elementary schools	0.3%					(n/a)	5.1	5.0	< 5%	< 5%	< 5%	< 5%	< 5%	10.3	< 5%	< 5%	< 5%	5.9	5.9	< 5%	7.5	5.0	13.6	7.9	8.1	9.1	8.4	< 5%	13.5	5.9	7.3	$14,974	$1,564	$12,858
Cummings Elementary/Middle School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-8	1037 Cummings St	Memphis	38106	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(901) 416-7810	267	23	11.5	82.3%	0 (0.0%)	257 (96.3%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.6%)	5.6	995^th of 1019 public elementary schools	2.4%		8	962^nd of 1009 public elementary schools	4.7%	33	8.3	< 5%	11.1	7.3	< 5%	< 5%	5.6	13.9	< 5%	11.4	13.0	13.2	8.9	10.9	19.4	< 5%	16.7	7.1	7.4	7.0	9.3	8.9	13.0	14.0	11.8	$15,100	$1,238	$12,674
Memphis Delta Preparatory School	Public, Charter	K-5	1237 College Street	Memphis	38106	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(901) 251-1010	381	32	12.0	86.3%	0 (0.0%)	371 (97.4%)	6 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.0%)	6.9	978^th of 1019 public elementary schools	4.0%		7.3	973^rd of 1009 public elementary schools	3.6%	5	9.8	11.9	15.9				12.7	17.6	9.0	16.4				14.0	23.5	10.4	21.0				17.8					$7,538	$1,901	$5,271
Perea Elementary School	Public, Charter	K-6	1250 Vollintine Avenue	Memphis	38107	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(901) 203-6420	399	21	19.0	71.8%	0 (0.0%)	390 (97.7%)	5 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.0%)	43.1	589^th of 1019 public elementary schools	42.2%		43.9	550^th of 1009 public elementary schools	45.5%	39	33.3	33.8	9.6	19.1			24.9	45.6	75.4	42.3	55.3			55.7	21.1	70.8	42.3	23.4			41.2	14.9			14.9	$17,079	$1,498	$14,830
A. B. Hill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	345 East Olive Avenue	Memphis	38106	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-7844	544	37	14.7	80.2%	3 (0.6%)	524 (96.3%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.7%)	8 (1.5%)	2.6	1018^th of 1019 public elementary schools	0.1%		3.6	1006^th of 1009 public elementary schools	0.3%	12	< 5%	< 5%	< 5%				< 5%	12.3	5.2	< 5%				5.6	7.0	12.1	< 5%				6.3					$14,480	$2,226	$11,177

Frequently Asked Questions about Downtown Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Downtown Elementary School?

Students at Downtown Elementary School are 91% African American, 3% Two or more races, 2% White, 2% Hispanic.

What district is Downtown Elementary School in?

Memphis-Shelby County Schools

What schools do graduates of Downtown Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Downtown Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Manassas High School

Is Downtown Elementary School a good school?

Downtown Elementary School ranks in the bottom 6.8% of Tennessee elementary schools.

How many students attend Downtown Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 784 students attended Downtown Elementary School.

Rate Downtown Elementary School!

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Latest Tennessee data All new data »

2025–26 TNReady test scoresAug 25, 2026

2024–25 dropout ratesApr 2, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataFeb 27, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataDec 18, 2025

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.