Best Public Schools in Zip Code 38053

Zip code 38053 in Millington, Tennessee is served by Millington Municipal Schools and Memphis-Shelby County Schools, which together operate 6 schools — 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high school — serving 3,492 students. Both districts rank below the Tennessee median, with Millington Municipal ranking 119th of 141 districts and Memphis-Shelby County ranking 137th of 141, yet individual schools in the zip code vary considerably in performance.

Millington Primary School is the clear academic standout, ranking in the 53rd percentile and exceeding state averages in 3rd grade math and ELA, as well as all-grade math and ELA. Millington Central Middle High School posts a graduation rate of 92.2%, above the state average, and strong results in accelerated courses like 8th grade Algebra I (86.7% proficient). Within Memphis-Shelby County, E.E. Jeter Elementary/Middle School outperforms its district in every subject, while Woodstock Middle School has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the zip code at 6.2%. At the other end, Lucy Elementary School is the lowest-performing school, with only 9.8% of 3rd graders proficient in math.

A few key patterns emerge. First, academic performance declines sharply as students progress: Millington Primary's 3rd grade math proficiency of 48.0% falls to 17.9% by 7th grade at Millington Central. Second, higher spending does not align with better outcomes — Lucy spends $17,647 per student yet is the lowest performer, while Millington Primary spends less and achieves far more. Third, strong attendance does not guarantee strong academics, as Woodstock's excellent 6.2% chronic absenteeism rate coexists with low test scores. Finally, Millington Central shows a dramatic gap between accelerated and standard-track students, with a select group excelling in advanced courses while most students score well below state averages. Millington Intermediate School, serving grades 4-6, sits between the strong primary school and the struggling middle grades, with mixed year-over-year trends.