Best High Schools in Zip Code 38104

Zip code 38104 in Memphis, Tennessee is home to five public high schools serving grades 9-12 (with one combined middle/high school), all part of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district, which ranks near the bottom of Tennessee districts. Despite this, these schools post graduation rates that mostly exceed state averages, with four of the five above Tennessee's 90.5% rate. Crosstown High School leads the group with a 97.5% graduation rate and the highest state ranking (62nd percentile), also beating state averages in English and Biology. Middle College High School has the lowest chronic absenteeism (5.3%) and the strongest test scores in several subjects, but its ranking has fallen sharply from the 91st to 53rd percentile in two years.

The middle tier shows mixed but improving performance. Compass Community School Midtown posts a 96.6% graduation rate and strong US History proficiency but saw a 21.5-point drop in English II. Central High School, the largest school with 1,331 students, has the lowest graduation rate (90.2%) and highest dropout rate (8.9%) but made large gains in Geometry and US History. Memphis Academy of Science Engineering Middle/High has the highest per-student spending ($17,299) and a 96.9% graduation rate, yet also the highest chronic absenteeism (58.0%) and a ranking in the bottom third of the state.

Across the zip code, Algebra I is a universal weak spot, with every school falling below the state average of 32.3%. Chronic absenteeism varies dramatically from 5.3% at Middle College to 58.0% at MASE, and this attendance gap likely influences academic outcomes more than spending, which does not align with performance. The area also shows significant year-over-year volatility, as seen at Central and Compass, making it clear that families should look at multiple years of data. Overall, Crosstown and Middle College are the strongest academic options, followed by Compass and Central, while MASE remains a high-graduation, high-attendance-risk choice.