Summary:
There is one middle school in zip code 38118, American Way Middle School, serving grades 6 through 8 for roughly 693 students in the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district. Because it is the only middle school in the area, all comparisons are made against the district and state. The school has ranked in the bottom 10% of Tennessee middle schools for three consecutive years, with a state percentile of just 7th in the most recent year. This places it among the lowest-performing schools in the state, even though its district itself ranks near the bottom in Tennessee.
Academically, American Way Middle School is far behind state averages in every tested subject. Proficiency rates are roughly 10% in math and English Language Arts, compared with about 40% statewide. Science and social studies do somewhat better but still trail the state by roughly 28 to 31 percentage points. Chronic absenteeism affects about 24.9% of students, which is better than the district’s 30.2% but worse than the state’s 18.3%. The school spends a relatively high $15,004 per student, yet outcomes remain low, raising questions about how resources are being used.
Grade-level trends show some notable patterns. Math proficiency rises steadily from 5.7% in 6th grade to 13.9% in 8th grade, while ELA proficiency drops sharply from 15.6% to just 5.6%. Eighth grade science and social studies are relative bright spots, with proficiency rates close to or above district averages. However, most subjects declined from the previous year, with science falling the most by 3.7 percentage points. For parents, the overall picture is clear: American Way Middle School faces serious academic challenges, but a few subject areas and grades show signs of strength that could be built upon.
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