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Maxine Smith STEAM Academy

Q: Is Maxine Smith STEAM Academy a good school?

Yes! Maxine Smith STEAM Academy is one of the best middle schools in the state. It ranks 28 th of 594 Tennessee middle schools.

Q: How many students attend Maxine Smith STEAM Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 439 students attended Maxine Smith STEAM Academy.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Maxine Smith STEAM Academy?

Students at Maxine Smith STEAM Academy are 52% African American, 32% White, 8% Two or more races, 7% Hispanic.

Public Grades 6-8

28^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 594 Tennessee Middle Schools

Better than 95% of Tennessee middle schools

Summary

Maxine Smith STEAM Academy is a public middle school in Memphis, TN, serving 439 students in grades 6-8 as part of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district, which ranks in the bottom 3% of Tennessee districts. Despite its district's challenges, Maxine Smith has earned a 5-star rating every year with available data and consistently ranks among Tennessee's top middle schools, placing 28th out of 594 schools statewide in 2025-2026.

The school's test scores are dramatically above both district and state averages. In the most recent year, math proficiency was 60.7% compared to the district's 22.1%, and ELA proficiency was 75.1% versus the district's 24.6%. Science (76.4%) and Social Studies (83.0%) were similarly strong. The school also offers Algebra I to 8th graders, achieving 93.8% proficiency, far above the district's 58.0%. These results stand out when compared with nearby Bellevue Middle School (16.7% math), American Way Middle School (10.1%), and Treadwell Middle School (8.2%). In fact, Maxine Smith's math proficiency is roughly six times higher than several nearby middle schools.

One of the most notable aspects of this school is that success spans all student subgroups, with students from every demographic group — including those from low-income households — ranking near the top of the state in recent years. The school spends $12,546 per student, less than nearby Veritas College Preparatory School ($19,447) and Lester Prep ($18,343), while producing far better results. Although a recent dip in math scores and relatively weaker outcomes for gifted students are worth monitoring, Maxine Smith STEAM Academy remains an outstanding example of high achievement regardless of district context.

439

Students ?

16.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,546

Per pupil spending ?

29.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

750 E Parkway S
Memphis, TN 38104

(901) 416-4536

District: Memphis-Shelby County Schools

Racial breakdown:

African American:

52.4%

White:

31.7%

Two or more races:

8.4%

See top rated Tennessee middle schools

Compare Maxine Smith STEAM Academy to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 98th percentile in 2018 → 95th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Tennessee average (75% vs 44% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 5% of Tennessee middle schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Memphis-Shelby County Schools

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school75%

District avg25%

Tennessee avg44%

28^th of 594

Tennessee public middle schools ?

Top 5%▼ down 3 pts since 2018

From top 2% (2018) to top 5% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 32Middle 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	94.5	28 of 594	95.3%	★★★★★
2025	98.8	4 of 583	99.3%	★★★★★
2024	98.2	9 of 587	98.5%	★★★★★
2023	96.7	17 of 594	97.1%	★★★★★
2022	95.7	19 of 569	96.7%	★★★★★
2021	85.2	48 of 576	91.7%	★★★★★
2019	99.3	6 of 574	99.0%	★★★★★
2018	96.9	9 of 563	98.4%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	95.4	9 of 328	97.3%	★★★★★
2025	99.2	2 of 312	99.4%	★★★★★
2024	99.0	5 of 318	98.4%	★★★★★
2023	98.2	3 of 316	99.1%	★★★★★
2022	98.1	4 of 299	98.7%	★★★★★
2021	93.7	5 of 277	98.2%	★★★★★
2019	99.7	3 of 293	99.0%	★★★★★
2018	98.2	3 of 284	98.9%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	98.4	4 of 546	99.3%	★★★★★
2024	97.0	14 of 554	97.5%	★★★★★
2023	95.5	17 of 560	97.0%	★★★★★
2022	92.5	28 of 552	94.9%	★★★★★
2021	81.6	55 of 538	89.8%	★★★★☆
2019	98.7	7 of 529	98.7%	★★★★★

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	63.7	4 of 11	63.6%	★★★★☆
2024	41.6	12 of 15	20.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.8	9 of 17	47.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	39.7	16 of 23	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	53.9	25 of 39	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	68.3	13 of 35	62.9%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	99.2	3 of 302	99.0%	★★★★★
2025	98.2	5 of 286	98.3%	★★★★★
2024	99.5	1 of 285	99.6%	★★★★★
2023	98.5	3 of 285	98.9%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	92.0	14 of 478	97.1%	★★★★★
2025	99.9	1 of 490	99.8%	★★★★★
2024	99.7	1 of 510	99.8%	★★★★★
2023	96.8	2 of 514	99.6%	★★★★★
2022	93.7	8 of 495	98.4%	★★★★★
2021	89.3	10 of 483	97.9%	★★★★★
2019	99.0	3 of 490	99.4%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	98.3	6 of 550	98.9%	★★★★★
2024	98.3	8 of 560	98.6%	★★★★★
2023	96.5	13 of 557	97.7%	★★★★★
2022	97.2	10 of 540	98.1%	★★★★★
2021	88.9	31 of 529	94.1%	★★★★★
2019	99.1	4 of 523	99.2%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	96.8	9 of 494	98.2%	★★★★★
2025	99.7	1 of 492	99.8%	★★★★★
2024	99.3	3 of 504	99.4%	★★★★★
2023	97.2	7 of 503	98.6%	★★★★★
2022	96.6	11 of 500	97.8%	★★★★★
2021	90.2	33 of 496	93.3%	★★★★★
2019	99.1	5 of 484	99.0%	★★★★★
2018	97.7	5 of 481	99.0%	★★★★★

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)

Female (2025)99th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)99th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2025)99th percentile~ school

White (2026)98th percentile+3 vs school

African American (2026)97th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)97th percentile~ school

Gifted and Talented (2025)64th percentile-36 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I94%+62 vs state

Social Studies83%+32 vs state

Science76%+30 vs state

English Language Arts75%+34 vs state

Mathematics61%+18 vs state

★

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Schools Near Maxine Smith STEAM Academy

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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 Algebra I (2026)			TNReady Geometry (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	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2016)	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 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 7th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 8th Grade	TNReady Algebra I All Grades	TNReady Geometry 8th 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
Maxine Smith STEAM Academy	Public	6-8	750 E Parkway S	Memphis	38104	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	No	(901) 416-4536	397	24	16.8	29.4%	120 (30.2%)	215 (54.2%)	33 (8.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (7.3%)	94.5	28^th of 594 public middle schools	95.3%		98.8	4^th of 583 public middle schools	99.3%	24	48.4	74.2	59.1	60.7	72.0	80.5	72.5	75.1		93.8	94.4	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	73.9	75.5	80.3	76.4	83.4	82.4	83.1	83.0	$12,546	$828	$11,351
Lester Prep	Public, Charter	6-8	320 Carpenter Street	Memphis	38112	Shelby County	Tennessee Public Charter School Commission	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(901) 416-3640	219	19	11.5		2 (0.9%)	205 (93.6%)	9 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.9%)	13.6	517^th of 594 public middle schools	13.0%		13.3	512^th of 583 public middle schools	12.2%	5	13.6	5.6	15.3	11.9	16.3	16.7	5.2	13.0						21.0	25.9	18.6	21.6	39.5	33.3	13.6	29.9	$18,343	$2,193	$16,150
Bellevue Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	575 S Bellevue Blvd	Memphis	38104	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(901) 416-4488	606	35	17.4	68.9%	7 (1.2%)	527 (87.0%)	37 (6.1%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	32 (5.3%)	24	470^th of 594 public middle schools	20.9%		27.3	443^rd of 583 public middle schools	24.0%	27	11.3	16.6	21.7	16.7	26.6	26.2	14.9	22.3						24.9	42.8	27.7	31.9	23.7	47.6	30.8	34.3	$13,738	$1,289	$11,474
University Middle School	Public	6-8	330 Fogelman Drive	Memphis	38152	Shelby County	University Schools - Memphis	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(901) 678-4200	0											94.6	25^th of 594 public middle schools	95.8%					(n/a)	68.8	66.3	50.0	63.6	73.1	65.9	71.4	70.1		≥ 95%	≥ 95%			75.3	78.0	65.3	74.2	67.7	85.6	88.3	80.0	$13,446	$219	$13,068
Sherwood Middle School	Public	6-8	3480 Rhodes Ave	Memphis	38111	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-4870	670	46	14.5	96.8%	4 (0.6%)	468 (69.9%)	185 (27.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (1.8%)	4.2	584^th of 594 public middle schools	1.7%		5	576^th of 583 public middle schools	1.2%	8	< 5%	< 5%	6.1	< 5%	8.8	< 5%	< 5%	5.7						9.1	10.2	14.1	11.1	11.2	15.0	8.0	11.4	$14,013	$1,948	$11,204
Veritas College Preparatory School	Public, Charter	6-8	1500 Dunn Avenue	Memphis	38106	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(901) 526-1900	135	11	12.2	94.8%	0 (0.0%)	125 (92.6%)	5 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.0%)	7.5	565^th of 594 public middle schools	4.9%		6.3	566^th of 583 public middle schools	2.9%	1	8.5	9.8	12.5	10.2	10.6	12.2	12.2	11.6						12.8	9.8	7.3	10.1	29.8	14.6	12.2	19.4	$19,447	$1,512	$17,569
Treadwell Middle School	Public	6-8	920 N Highland St	Memphis	38122	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-6100	662	37	17.7	97.8%	39 (5.9%)	222 (33.5%)	374 (56.5%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	24 (3.6%)	7.1	569^th of 594 public middle schools	4.2%		9	549^th of 583 public middle schools	5.8%	20	< 5%	11.8	9.0	8.2	9.0	9.3	9.9	9.4						14.7	20.2	16.4	17.0	15.0	21.0	16.0	17.4	$14,256	$1,747	$11,810
Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory Charter School	Public, Charter	5-8	168 Jefferson Avenue	Memphis	38103	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(901) 474-0955	349	26	13.4	81.7%	9 (2.6%)	316 (90.5%)	16 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.3%)	39	376^th of 594 public middle schools	36.7%		47.8	294^th of 583 public middle schools	49.6%	82	19.8	15.1	52.9	28.0	29.7	22.9	16.5	23.1						39.6	44.3	44.7	42.9	38.9	49.1	47.1	45.2	$16,860	$1,562	$14,931
Kingsbury Middle School	Public	6-8	1276 N Graham St	Memphis	38122	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-6040	502	30	16.7	98.3%	36 (7.2%)	100 (19.9%)	343 (68.3%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.0%)	7.5	566^th of 594 public middle schools	4.7%		6.6	563^rd of 583 public middle schools	3.4%	3	13.4	7.6	7.9	9.5	17.9	7.6	< 5%	9.4						17.2	17.0	16.4	16.9	20.9	16.5	15.8	17.6	$12,315	$1,935	$10,013
American Way Middle School	Public	6-8	3805 American Way	Memphis	38118	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-1250	671	41	16.5	87.0%	2 (0.3%)	416 (62.0%)	234 (34.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (2.8%)	9.1	553^rd of 594 public middle schools	6.9%		10.4	527^th of 583 public middle schools	9.6%	26	5.7	10.8	13.9	10.1	15.6	10.3	5.6	10.5						19.4	12.0	23.5	18.6	21.0	13.0	25.6	20.2	$15,004	$2,216	$11,901

Frequently Asked Questions about Maxine Smith STEAM Academy

What is the racial makeup of Maxine Smith STEAM Academy?

Students at Maxine Smith STEAM Academy are 52% African American, 32% White, 8% Two or more races, 7% Hispanic.

What district is Maxine Smith STEAM Academy in?

Memphis-Shelby County Schools

How many students attend Maxine Smith STEAM Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 439 students attended Maxine Smith STEAM Academy.

Is Maxine Smith STEAM Academy a good school?

Yes! Maxine Smith STEAM Academy is one of the best middle schools in the state. It ranks 28^th of 594 Tennessee middle schools.

Rate Maxine Smith STEAM Academy!

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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.