Schools in Zip Code 38115

Zip code 38115 in Memphis, Tennessee contains 14 schools serving approximately 7,825 students across elementary, middle, and high school grades, with most belonging to Memphis-Shelby County Schools. The clear standout is Newberry Elementary School, which ranks in the 83rd percentile statewide and is the only school in the area performing above state averages in math, ELA, and science—including an extraordinary 83.9% science proficiency. Hickory Ridge Elementary School showed the most dramatic improvement, jumping from the 21st to 51st percentile in one year. For high schools, Power Center Academy High School leads with a 95.1% graduation rate and only 13.3% chronic absenteeism, far better than Kirby High School (84% graduation, 63.1% absenteeism) or Bluff City High School (75.2% graduation, 55.8% absenteeism). Among K-8 schools, Compass Community School Hickory Hill Campus has the lowest chronic absenteeism in the entire zip code at just 5.0% and posts strong middle-grade results, including 72% 8th-grade math proficiency versus the district's 16.6%.

Chronic absenteeism is the defining challenge across 38115, averaging 29.1% compared to the state's 18.3%, with Kirby Middle School ranking in the 1st percentile statewide and posting just 5.3% ELA proficiency alongside a 52% chronic absenteeism rate. Elementary schools generally outpace middle schools: average elementary math proficiency is around 37% versus the district's 22.1%, while standalone middle schools like Hickory Ridge Middle School (12.4% math, 12.4% ELA) and Power Center Academy Middle School (27% math, 16% ELA) lag far behind. The K-8 model seems to help: both Compass and Journey East Academy achieve stronger middle-school results than any standalone middle school, despite Journey East spending just $7,703 per student.

Spending does not predict performance, as evidenced by Kirby Middle's highest per-student expenditure ($17,796) producing the worst outcomes, while lower-spending schools like Winridge Elementary School and Fox Meadows Elementary School perform closer to state averages. A troubling "fifth-grade slump" appears across several elementary schools, including Belle Forest Community School where 3rd-grade math proficiency of 52.6% crashes to 14.4% by 5th grade—Newberry is the notable exception with 70.6% 5th-grade math. While most schools in this area face significant challenges, the successes at Newberry, Compass, and Power Center Academy demonstrate that strong attendance, school culture, and targeted interventions can meaningfully improve outcomes for students in zip code 38115.