Best Public Schools in Zip Code 38118

In ZIP code 38118 in Memphis, Tennessee, there are 16 schools enrolling about 7,351 students: eight elementary schools, one middle school, six high schools, and one alternative school. Nearly all belong to Memphis-Shelby County Schools, ranked 137th of 141 districts, with only Cornerstone Prep Knight Road Campus School under the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission. This is a low-performing pocket of the state: most schools sit in the bottom quartile of rankings, many in single digits, though a few bright spots show stronger outcomes are possible.

The strongest traditional school is Oakhaven Elementary School, ranking in the 53rd percentile with three stars and math/ELA proficiency near state averages. Cornerstone Prep Knight Road Campus School, a small PK-3 charter with 85 students, ranks 54th and has the ZIP's highest math proficiency at 50%. Among high schools, Oakhaven High School ranks highest at the 32nd percentile, with a 78.6% graduation rate and the strongest local test scores. Memphis School of Excellence has a 98.6% graduation rate but lower proficiency. At the other end, Invictus Academy at Airways, Sheffield High School, and Wooddale High School are serious concerns, with chronic absenteeism above 67% and graduation rates as low as 56.6%.

Chronic absenteeism is a crisis, especially in secondary schools: Invictus Academy at Airways tops 91.5%, and Wooddale High School and Sheffield High School are above 67%. American Way Middle School, the only middle school, is a weak point with just 10% proficiency in math and ELA. Spending does not explain outcomes: Invictus Academy at Airways spends over $21,000 per student yet ranks in the 3rd percentile, while Cornerstone Prep Knight Road Campus School spends similarly and achieves top results. Graduation rates also overstate readiness, as many graduates score far below state averages. For parents, elementary options like Oakhaven and Cornerstone offer the best odds of proficiency, but the middle-to-high school transition is where many students fall behind.