Summary:
Zip code 38120 in Memphis, Tennessee is home to two public schools in the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district: Richland Elementary School serving grades PK-5 with 907 students and White Station Middle School serving grades 6-8 with 1,127 students, with no high schools located in the area.
Both schools stand out dramatically within a district that ranks in the 3rd percentile statewide. Richland Elementary School is the higher performer, ranking in the 91st percentile of Tennessee elementary schools with a 5-star rating. Its proficiency rates are exceptional: 69.3% in math, 68.0% in ELA, and 67.4% in science—all far above state averages. White Station Middle School ranks in the 77th percentile of middle schools with a 4-star rating and excels in social studies (58.9% proficient) and science (52.0%), while its math score of 42.4% sits just below the state average. In every shared subject, Richland outperforms White Station by 15 to 27 percentage points, reflecting a common trend where proficiency declines as students transition to middle school.
Both schools share remarkable strengths. Chronic absenteeism is strikingly low—7.4% at Richland and 12.4% at White Station, compared with the district's 30.2% and the state's 18.3%. Per-student spending is generous at both schools ($14,373 at Richland and $13,651 at White Station). A notable highlight is Richland's 5th grade math proficiency of 81.1%, the highest figure reported at either school. However, both schools have slipped slightly in statewide rankings over the past three years: Richland fell from the 96th to the 91st percentile, while White Station dropped from the 83rd to the 77th percentile. Still, both remain strong bright spots within Memphis-Shelby County Schools and excellent options for families in 38120.
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