Summary:
Zip code 38122 in Memphis, Tennessee is served by two public middle schools—Treadwell Middle School and Kingsbury Middle School—both covering grades 6–8 within the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district, which ranks in the bottom 3% of Tennessee districts. Treadwell is the larger of the two, enrolling 764 students, while Kingsbury serves 538. Both schools sit in the bottom 5% of Tennessee middle schools, with proficiency rates far below both district and state averages. The two schools are similar academically in 2025–26, but their operational profiles differ sharply.
In 2025–26, math proficiency was just 8.2% at Treadwell and 9.5% at Kingsbury, compared to 22.1% for the district and 43.0% statewide. ELA proficiency was identical at 9.4% for both schools, against a state rate of 40.6%. Science and social studies were relative bright spots—both schools scored near 17% in each subject—but still far below state averages. Treadwell spent $1,941 more per student than Kingsbury, yet this did not translate into better outcomes. Meanwhile, Treadwell's chronic absenteeism rate of 37.5% is more than triple Kingsbury's 10.9%, and well above the state average of 18.3%.
Several patterns stand out. Kingsbury improved dramatically in social studies (+9.1 points) and science (+4.6 points) from 2024–25 to 2025–26, while Treadwell declined in all four tested subjects. Yet Kingsbury's state ranking barely moved, since it remains so far below statewide averages. Treadwell's ranking spiked to the 14th percentile in 2023–24 before falling to the 4th percentile by 2025–26, suggesting volatility rather than stable quality. For parents, the choice between these two schools is difficult: Kingsbury offers far better attendance and recent academic momentum, while Treadwell spends more but struggles with chronic absenteeism. Both schools require intensive support, but Kingsbury's challenge appears rooted in instruction and curriculum rather than attendance.
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