Summary:
ZIP code 38135 contains five elementary schools serving grades PK/K through 5, with no middle or high schools in the immediate area, forcing families to seek secondary education elsewhere. Four of the schools belong to Bartlett City Schools, a top-ranked Tennessee district (15th of 141, 5 stars), while the fifth belongs to Memphis-Shelby County Schools, which ranks near the bottom (137th of 141, 0 stars). This district split creates dramatically different academic outcomes within the same ZIP code.
Among the Bartlett schools, Bartlett Elementary School is the clear standout: it ranks 140th statewide (86th percentile), posts the highest proficiency in math, ELA, and science (61%, 62.6%, and 59.9%), has the lowest chronic absenteeism at 9.9%, and also spends the least per student at $13,585. Brownsville Road Elementary School, the lone MSCS school, ranks 704th statewide and trails state averages in every subject, with a 30.1% chronic absenteeism rate — but it actually outperforms its own district by roughly 13 points in math and 12 points in ELA. Oak Elementary School is a concern: it has slid from 149th to 299th statewide in two years and declined in all subjects.
The other Bartlett schools — Rivercrest Elementary School and Ellendale Elementary School — both rank in the 71st-73rd percentile and outperform state averages. Across the four Bartlett schools, 4th grade is the strongest cohort, while 3rd grade appears weakest. Chronic absenteeism tracks closely with performance, and spending does not predict success: Bartlett Elementary spends the least yet performs best. For parents in 38135, district assignment matters more than the ZIP code itself, though the Bartlett schools consistently provide strong options.
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