Summary:
Zip code 38116 in Memphis, TN is home to 16 schools serving roughly 7,925 students across elementary (PK–5), middle (6–8), and high school (6–12) campuses, with most belonging to Memphis-Shelby County Schools and one under the Achievement School District. The standout academic performer is Whitehaven High School, which ranks in the 87th percentile statewide with proficiency rates in geometry, US History, and English II that far exceed district and state averages, a graduation rate of 87.7%, and chronic absenteeism of just 19.8%.
Among elementary schools, Freedom Prep Elementary – Millbranch ranks highest (56th percentile) with science and ELA proficiency above state averages, while Robert R. Church Elementary made remarkable one-year gains of 15–19 points in math, ELA, and science. At the other end of the spectrum, Hillcrest High School is the most challenged school, ranking in the 4th percentile with a 70.2% chronic absenteeism rate, a 68.3% graduation rate, and the highest per-student spending ($18,230) in the zip code, yet among the lowest proficiency rates.
One of the most striking patterns is that elementary schools strongly outperform middle schools in the same zip code: elementary average ELA proficiency is 30.0% versus just 10.7% at traditional middle schools, suggesting the middle school transition is a major academic breaking point. Chronic absenteeism is a serious issue at schools like A. Maceo Walker Middle (50.2%), but Havenview Middle shows that low absenteeism (10.6%) doesn't guarantee strong scores. The Freedom Prep campuses consistently demonstrate that school model and leadership matter, with low absenteeism and relatively strong science and social studies results, while spending does not align with outcomes — Hillcrest spends the most yet performs worst, whereas Freedom Prep Middle – Brownlee spends far less and produces solid results.
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