Cornerstone Prep Lester Campus School

Cornerstone Prep Lester Campus School is a public charter elementary school in Memphis, TN, serving 354 students in grades PK through 5, and is authorized by the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission.

Cornerstone Prep Lester currently ranks in the 20th percentile of elementary schools statewide, placing it in the bottom fifth of Tennessee schools. Academically, the school shows a mixed picture: 31.7% of students are proficient in math, 26.9% in ELA, and 31.7% in science. While math scores are above the charter district average, ELA and science lag behind both district and state averages. The most notable bright spot is 3rd-grade math, where 45.5% of students are proficient—actually above the state average of 42.6%. Unfortunately, this early strength fades sharply, with math proficiency dropping to 28.6% in 4th grade and just 22.2% by 5th grade, suggesting that early gains are not being sustained. Compared to nearby schools, Cornerstone significantly outperforms Hanley K-8 School and Treadwell Elementary School in all subjects, but trails schools like Idlewild Elementary School, which posts dramatically higher proficiency rates despite serving a similar community.

The single biggest issue facing the school is chronic absenteeism. At 51.7%, the rate is nearly three times the statewide average of 18.3% and far above nearby schools like Compass Community School Binghampton Campus at 7.5%. This level of missing school almost certainly drives the academic struggles, and the declining scores through upper elementary may reflect attendance gaps accumulating over time. The school also spends a substantial $18,220 per student—more than most nearby schools—yet this high spending is not translating into top results. Grahamwood Elementary School spends about $2,200 less per student and outperforms Cornerstone in every subject. While the school performs reasonably well for its African American and low-income students compared to similar schools statewide, special education services stand out as a major weakness, ranking in the 11th percentile. For parents, the takeaway is clear: Cornerstone Prep Lester has a promising foundation in early math, but reducing chronic absenteeism and strengthening literacy, science, and special education support are critical to helping students succeed.