Best Public Schools in Zip Code 38108

ZIP code 38108 in Memphis is home to 9 schools within the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district, serving roughly 3,599 students across elementary, middle, and high school grades in a school system that ranks near the bottom of Tennessee districts — yet the schools here range from near-bottom statewide rankings to above-average elementary performance.

For parents, the brightest options are in elementary education. Wells Station Elementary School ranks in the 66th percentile statewide and is the only school in the ZIP code to outperform Tennessee in both ELA and Science, with just 10.8% chronic absenteeism. Jackson Elementary School is a close second, with math scores above the state average, the lowest absenteeism in the area at 9.8%, and a strong improvement trajectory. Among secondary schools, Douglass High School is the standout story, climbing from the 3rd to the 46th percentile in just two years and now beating the district average in every tested subject. KIPP Memphis Collegiate High School offers the strongest graduation rate at 86.3%, though its test scores remain low.

The most consistent pattern is that chronic absenteeism tracks closely with low performance — the top elementary schools have absenteeism near 10%, while the weakest schools exceed 40%. Spending does not predict success: Springdale Elementary School spends the most per student ($19,060) but shows a dramatic collapse from strong 3rd-grade scores to just 7.4% proficiency by 5th grade. The middle schools — KIPP Memphis Collegiate Middle School and Oakhaven Middle School — are the weakest link, with proficiency in single digits to low 20s. Families should weigh these sharp differences carefully, as a ZIP code with schools at the 1st and 66th percentiles side by side offers vastly different experiences depending on the school.