Best Public Schools in Zip Code 38141

Zip code 38141 in Memphis, Tennessee is served by three elementary schools — Ross Elementary School, Crump Elementary School, and Memphis School of Excellence Elementary — all part of Memphis-Shelby County Schools, a district ranked in the 3rd percentile statewide. All three schools serve grades PK-5, and there are no middle or high schools in this zip code, meaning families must leave the area for secondary education.

Among the three, Ross Elementary stands out as the strongest overall performer. It holds the highest 2025-2026 state ranking (832 out of 1,019, 18th percentile), leads the zip in ELA proficiency (27.1%), and has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 14.0% — the only school in 38141 below the state average. Ross also boasts the best 5th grade math proficiency (46.3%) and the highest per-student spending at $15,169. Crump Elementary, meanwhile, posts the highest all-grades math proficiency (27.5%) and the best 4th grade math result in the zip (38.6%), but its chronic absenteeism rate of 25.5% is nearly double Ross's. Memphis School of Excellence Elementary is the science leader, with all-grades science proficiency of 34.6%, well above the district average of 28.4%, despite having the lowest ELA (19.6%) and lowest per-student spending ($14,489).

All three schools rank in the bottom quarter of Tennessee elementary schools, but each has improved its state ranking over the past two years. The most dramatic gains came from Memphis School of Excellence, which jumped from 960th to 863rd place, and Crump, which rose from 934th to 879th. In contrast, Ross's ranking improved only slightly, from 873rd to 832nd, and its math proficiency actually declined by 4.7 points year-over-year. Across the zip, all schools remain significantly below state averages — for example, state math proficiency is 43.0% while the highest in 38141 is only 27.5%. Still, these schools generally outperform their district averages, and with no secondary schools locally, their progress and challenges are especially important for families considering this area.