Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary

Q: Is Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary a good school?

Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary ranks 506 th of 1018 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary is a public elementary school in Memphis, Tennessee, serving 245 students in grades K-5. Despite being part of the low-performing Memphis-Shelby County Schools district, this school stands out for its strong academic performance, particularly for its African American student population.

Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary outperforms the district and state averages in academic proficiency across all grades and subjects. In the 2023-2024 school year, 45.6% of its students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to just 22.4% for the district and 37.6% for the state. The school's African American students, who make up 81.22% of the student body, rank 147 out of 494 Tennessee elementary schools, a significant achievement. Additionally, the school has a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 11.1, compared to the surrounding schools, which range from 12.7 to 17.2.

While Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary is a high-performing school within a low-performing district, it is not the only strong academic performer in the area. Schools like Sea Isle Elementary, Winridge Elementary, and Compass Community School Hickory Hill Campus also demonstrate impressive academic results, particularly in specific grade levels or subject areas. However, Balmoral/Ridgeway's consistent performance and its success in serving a predominantly African American and economically disadvantaged student population make it a potential model for other schools facing similar challenges.

Detail:

Public, Magnet K-5

5905 Grosvenor Ave
Memphis, TN 38119-7923

(901) 416-2128

District: Memphis-Shelby County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
506^th of 1,018 Tennessee Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $16,029

Students who attend Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Ridgeway Middle
High:	Ridgeway High

Student/teacher ratio: 12.3

Number of students: 271

Racial breakdown:

African American:

84.1%

Hispanic:

7.4%

White:

6.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 76.3%

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Compare Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary ranks better than 50.3% of elementary schools in Tennessee. It also ranks 14^th among 121 ranked elementary schools in the Memphis-Shelby County Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 47.85. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (84.1%), Hispanic (7.4%), White (6.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary is 12.3, which is the 12^th best among 121 elementary schools in the Memphis-Shelby County Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary employs 22 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary is $16,029, which is the 34^th highest among 121 elementary schools in the Memphis-Shelby County Schools District.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary 506^th of 1018 Tennessee public elementary schools. (See Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

Memphis-Shelby County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Memphis-Shelby County Schools 135^th of 140 Tennessee school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Rating:

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Rank History for Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	TN State Percentile
2017	20.32	583^rd	646	9.8%
2018	47.52	480^th	997	51.9%
2019	50.76	425^th	985	56.9%
2021	26.74	723^rd	983	26.4%
2022	31.56	695^th	1000	30.5%
2023	49.40	482^nd	1020	52.7%
2024	47.85	506^th	1018	50.3%

See the entire list of Tennessee Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	TN State Percentile
2018	58.58	277^th	877	68.4%
2019	54.04	314^th	821	61.8%
2021	34.02	553^rd	823	32.8%
2022	33.25	604^th	858	29.6%
2023	61.35	269^th	865	68.9%
2024	56.17	310^th	853	63.7%

See the entire list of Best Tennessee Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	TN State Percentile
2019	55.78	364^th	926	60.7%
2021	28.34	679^th	945	28.1%
2022	43.48	524^th	975	46.3%
2023	52.62	422^nd	989	57.3%
2024	53.03	408^th	990	58.8%

See the entire list of Best Tennessee Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	TN State Percentile
2019	38.18	566^th	916	38.2%
2021	25.90	698^th	941	25.8%
2022	24.85	748^th	980	23.7%
2023	43.88	539^th	987	45.4%
2024	41.11	580^th	991	41.5%

See the entire list of Best Tennessee Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	TN State Percentile
2018	70.32	91^st	450	79.8%
2019	69.71	84^th	404	79.2%
2021	50.39	149^th	411	63.7%
2022	57.47	154^th	483	68.1%
2023	71.75	100^th	500	80.0%
2024	62.46	148^th	498	70.3%

See the entire list of Best Tennessee Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Data source: test scores: Tennessee Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Tennessee Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 4)

100%

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2014	24	272	7	12	1	4	320
2015	26	267	6	22	0	9	330
2016	16	269	7	12	0	13	317
2017	16	250	7	19	0	13	305
2018	20	247	7	25	0	12	311
2019	19	252	8	32	2	12	325
2020	20	236	3	36	0	17	312
2021	12	232	2	30	0	16	292
2022	18	224	1	32	0	8	283
2023	19	199	1	20	0	6	245
2024	18	228	0	20	0	5	271

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	320	20.8	15.3	75.9
2015	330	21.0	15.7	73.6
2016	317	23.0	13.7	76.3
2017	305	21.3	14.3	n/a
2018	311	18.3	16.9	n/a
2019	325	20.6	15.7	n/a
2020	312	17.6	17.7	n/a
2021	292	21.1	13.7	n/a
2022	283	21.5	13.1	n/a
2023	245	22.0	11.1	n/a
2024	271	22.0	12.3	n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	320	20.8	15.3	75.9
2015	330	21.0	15.7	73.6
2016	317	23.0	13.7	76.3
2017	305	21.3	14.3	n/a
2018	311	18.3	16.9	n/a
2019	325	20.6	15.7	n/a
2020	312	17.6	17.7	n/a
2021	292	21.1	13.7	n/a
2022	283	21.5	13.1	n/a
2023	245	22.0	11.1	n/a
2024	271	22.0	12.3	n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$770 (6.3%)	$10,643 (86.9%)	$12,252
2020	$3,636 (24.5%)	$10,493 (70.7%)	$14,843
2021	$1,437 (11.6%)	$10,127 (81.9%)	$12,362
2022	$2,656 (17.9%)	$11,254 (75.9%)	$14,825
2023	$2,894 (18.1%)	$12,045 (75.1%)	$16,029

Data source: Tennessee Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 425^th of 985 Elementary schools	Ranks 482^nd of 1020 Elementary schools	4.1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary)	40.4	55.9	15.5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)	33.3	23.1	10.2%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Tennessee)	43.8	40.5	3.3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary)	40.4	47.1	6.7%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)	22.8	24	1.2%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Tennessee)	36.9	40.5	3.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary)	26.9	45.7	18.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)	34.7	23	11.7%
4th Grade Mathematics (Tennessee)	46	43.6	2.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary)	43.4	34.8	8.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)	24.2	27.2	3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Tennessee)	34.3	43.5	9.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary)	42.1	36.6	5.5%
5th Grade Mathematics (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)	32.6	17.3	15.3%
5th Grade Mathematics (Tennessee)	46.2	41.3	4.9%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary)	35.1	29.3	5.8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)	23.1	19.5	3.6%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Tennessee)	35.2	37	1.8%
All Grades Mathematics (Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary)	36.6	45.5	8.9%
All Grades Mathematics (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)	27.2	17	10.2%
All Grades Mathematics (Tennessee)	40.8	38.1	2.7%
All Grades English Language Arts (Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary)	39.5	36.4	3.1%
All Grades English Language Arts (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)	20.6	20.7	0.1%
All Grades English Language Arts (Tennessee)	33.7	36.6	2.9%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	325	245	24.6%
African American	252	199	21%
American Indian	2	0	100%
Asian	8	1	87.5%
Hispanic	32	20	37.5%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	19	19
Two or More Races	12	6	50%

Schools Near Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				TNReady Mathematics (2024)							TNReady English Language Arts (2024)							TNReady Science (2024)							TNReady Social Studies (2024)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	TNReady Mathematics 3rd Grade	TNReady Mathematics 4th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 5th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 6th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 7th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	TNReady English Language Arts 3rd Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 4th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 5th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 6th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 7th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 8th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts All Grades	TNReady Science 3rd Grade	TNReady Science 4th Grade	TNReady Science 5th Grade	TNReady Science 6th Grade	TNReady Science 7th Grade	TNReady Science 8th Grade	TNReady Science All Grades	TNReady Social Studies 6th Grade	TNReady Social Studies 7th Grade	TNReady Social Studies 8th Grade	TNReady Social Studies All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary	Public, Magnet	K-5	5905 Grosvenor Ave	Memphis	38119	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(901) 416-2128	271	22	12.3		18 (6.6%)	228 (84.1%)	20 (7.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.8%)	47.9	506^th of 1018 public elementary schools	50.3%		49.4	482^nd of 1020 public elementary schools	52.7%	24	52.1	39.5	35.4				42.5	54.2	53.8	30.6				45.6	34.0	41.0	18.8				30.6					$16,029	$2,894	$12,045
Fox Meadows Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2960 Emerald St	Memphis	38115	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-2530	536	32	17.0		2 (0.4%)	438 (81.7%)	79 (14.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.2%)	27.2	764^th of 1018 public elementary schools	25.0%		24.1	789^th of 1020 public elementary schools	22.6%	25	29.1	27.1	18.3				24.9	43.0	25.0	19.7				30.0	38.0	35.0	16.9				30.0					$14,697	$3,236	$10,486
Belle Forest Community School	Public	PK, KG-5	3135 Ridgeway	Memphis	38115	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-7200	1,035	58	17.8		4 (0.4%)	817 (78.9%)	201 (19.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (1.3%)	12.9	919^th of 1018 public elementary schools	9.7%		17.6	856^th of 1020 public elementary schools	16.1%	63	24.1	20.4	17.5				20.6	13.1	21.4	17.5				17.3	9.7	26.5	21.1				19.1					$13,305	$2,819	$9,635
Cornerstone Prep School	Public, Charter	K-1	5221 Cottonwood RD	Memphis	38118	Shelby County	Tennessee Public Charter School Commission	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(901) 416-3640	53	6	9.6		2 (3.8%)	41 (77.4%)	9 (17.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.9%)								(n/a)																										$28,010	$2,635	$25,375
Sea Isle Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5250 Sea Isle Rd	Memphis	38117	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-2104	499	30	16.6		88 (17.6%)	309 (61.9%)	71 (14.2%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (5.4%)	35.3	675^th of 1018 public elementary schools	33.7%		44.2	555^th of 1020 public elementary schools	45.6%	120	44.1	28.8	29.9				33.7	25.9	36.5	29.9				31.2	37.3	43.7	28.8				36.7					$15,787	$2,627	$12,269
Ridgeway Early Learning Center	Public	PK	3435 3435 Ridge Meadow Pkwy	Memphis	38115	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	(n/a)	(901) 416-1530	141	10	14.1		0 (0.0%)	123 (87.2%)	18 (12.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Newberry Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5540 Newberry Ave	Memphis	38115	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-2518	378	25	15.1		4 (1.1%)	265 (70.1%)	103 (27.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.3%)	58.3	374^th of 1018 public elementary schools	63.3%		27.8	750^th of 1020 public elementary schools	26.5%	376	65.2	39.7	36.5				46.0	54.3	32.3	37.7				40.4	65.2	38.1	63.5				54.0					$13,635	$2,976	$9,566
Evans Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4949 Cottonwood Rd	Memphis	38118	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-2504	448	28	16.2		4 (0.9%)	276 (61.6%)	158 (35.3%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.8%)	13.7	907^th of 1018 public elementary schools	10.9%		18.8	843^rd of 1020 public elementary schools	17.4%	64	32.1	13.1	21.7				22.0	19.6	16.4	16.4				17.4	21.4	14.8	20.0				18.6					$14,430	$2,697	$10,606
Winridge Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3500 Ridgeway RD	Memphis	38115	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-6618	415	31	13.3		3 (0.7%)	331 (79.8%)	74 (17.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	5 (1.2%)	33.1	694^th of 1018 public elementary schools	31.8%		45	548^th of 1020 public elementary schools	46.3%	146	52.0	9.7	43.9				32.4	40.0	26.0	24.6				29.4	30.6	37.0	29.8				33.0					$14,133	$2,712	$10,472
Compass Community School Hickory Hill Campus	Public, Charter	K-8	3572 Emerald	Memphis	38115	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(901) 546-9926	254	20	12.7		5 (2.0%)	41 (16.1%)	205 (80.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	44.9	546^th of 1018 public elementary schools	46.4%		34.3	678^th of 1020 public elementary schools	33.5%	132	34.8	43.5	24.0	48.0	38.5	47.4	39.9	26.1	60.9	36.0	44.0	33.3	26.3	36.4	21.7	26.1		36.0	23.1	34.2	24.9	40.0	38.5	36.8	38.2	$16,434	$3,441	$12,677

Frequently Asked Questions about Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary

What district is Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary in?

Memphis-Shelby County Schools

How many students attend Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary?

In the 2023-24 school year, 271 students attended Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary.

Is Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary a good school?

Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary ranks 506^th of 1018 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary?

Students at Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary are 84% African American, 7% Hispanic, 7% White, 2% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary attend?

Students who attend Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Ridgeway Middle
High : Ridgeway High

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Tennessee Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.