Summary:
Zip code 38018 in Cordova, Tennessee is served by two elementary schools — Cordova Elementary School (814 students, grades PK–5) and Memphis School of Excellence Elementary Cordova (324 students, grades K–5) — both part of Memphis-Shelby County Schools, a district rated near the bottom of Tennessee (137 out of 141).
Memphis School of Excellence Elementary Cordova is the clear standout. In 2025–26, it ranked 457th out of 1,019 Tennessee elementary schools (55th percentile, 3 stars), a huge jump from 801st the prior year. It is the only school in the zip code at or above state averages: math 44.9% vs. 43.0% statewide, ELA 44.3% vs. 40.6%, and science 46.6% vs. 46.9%. Its chronic absenteeism rate is 16.9% — below the state average and far below the district's 30.2%. Cordova Elementary, by contrast, ranks 750th (26th percentile, 1 star) and remains below state averages in math (25.1%) and science (37.7%), though it does beat its weak district average in every subject.
The proficiency gap between the two schools is striking: 19.8 points in math, 6.0 in ELA, and 8.9 in science, even though per-student spending is nearly identical ($14,463 vs. $14,404). MSE Cordova also improved dramatically year-over-year, with math up 13.8 points, ELA up 19.2 points, and science up 13.1 points, while Cordova Elementary improved far less. Chronic absenteeism strongly differentiates them: 28.9% at Cordova Elementary versus 16.9% at MSE Cordova. For parents, this means MSE Cordova offers the strongest academics and most positive momentum, while Cordova Elementary is a larger, more traditional school that outperforms its district but lags the state.
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