Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 38112

There are three elementary schools serving students in zip code 38112 (Memphis, TN), all part of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district, which ranks 137th out of 141 districts in Tennessee. These schools — Snowden Elementary/Middle School, William Herbert Brewster Elementary School, and Compass Community School Binghampton Campus — collectively serve 2,133 students. Snowden is the largest with 1,384 students in grades PK-8, Brewster serves 548 students in grades PK-5, and Compass is a small K-8 community school with 201 students.

Snowden Elementary/Middle School has the strongest state ranking of the three, placing 784th out of 1,019 schools (23rd percentile), and it is the only school in the area offering Algebra I and 8th-grade coursework. Its 4th-grade results are notably strong, with 42.4% proficient in Math and 46.2% in Science. William Herbert Brewster Elementary School leads the zip code in all-grade proficiency for core subjects, with 24.4% proficient in Math and 30.3% in English Language Arts, both above district averages. Compass Community School Binghampton Campus stands out for attendance: its 7.5% chronic absenteeism rate is remarkably lower than the district's 30.2% and even the state's 18.3%.

Despite these bright spots, all three schools are rated 1 star and lag the state significantly, with math proficiency ranging from 21.1% to 24.4% versus the state's 43.0%, and ELA ranging from 18.6% to 30.3% versus 40.6%. Year-over-year trends are mixed: Brewster improved in ELA and Science, Compass improved in Math and Social Studies, while Snowden declined across most subjects, especially Algebra I, where 8th-grade proficiency fell to 25.6% versus the state's 88.3%. Per-student spending ranges from $13,539 at Snowden to $16,051 at Compass, suggesting economies of scale at larger campuses. For parents, this area offers schools with dedicated efforts and some promising pockets of success, particularly Brewster's academics and Compass's attendance, but the data clearly indicates there is substantial work ahead to close the achievement gap with the rest of Tennessee.