Bolton High

Summary:

Bolton High is a public high school located in Arlington, Tennessee, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 710 students. The school is part of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district, which is ranked 134 out of 139 districts in Tennessee and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Bolton High faces significant academic challenges, with consistently low proficiency rates in subjects like Biology I, US History, and English I/II compared to state averages. The school's performance is particularly poor for specific student groups, such as Special Education and Low Socioeconomic Status students, ranking in the bottom quartile of Tennessee high schools with a 1-star rating. The nearby schools, including Memphis School of Excellence Cordova, Memphis Rise Academy, Craigmont High, and Raleigh-Egypt High, also struggle academically, suggesting a broader systemic issue within the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district.

The high percentage of African American students (80.28%) and low-income students at Bolton High, along with the relatively low per-student spending and higher student-teacher ratio compared to some nearby higher-performing schools, such as Bartlett High and Arlington High, may be contributing factors to the school's underperformance. Addressing these systemic issues within the broader Memphis-Shelby County Schools district will be crucial for improving the educational outcomes at Bolton High.

Detail:

Public, Magnet 9-12

7323 Brunswick Rd
Arlington, TN 38002-9605

(901) 416-1435

District: Memphis-Shelby County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
350^th of 392 Tennessee High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,799

Feeder schools for Bolton High:

Elementary:	Barret's Chapel Elementary/Middle
	Lucy Elementary

Student/teacher ratio: 17.0

Number of students: 710

Racial breakdown:

African American:

80.3%

Hispanic:

8.9%

White:

6.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 60.8%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Bolton High ranks worse than 89.3% of high schools in Tennessee. It also ranks 28^th among 36 ranked high schools in the Memphis-Shelby County Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 13.92. (See more...)

The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Bolton High freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Chronic absenteeism in a high 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 Bolton High has the largest high school student body size in the Memphis-Shelby County Schools District. (See more...)

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Bolton High is $12,799. 27 high schools in the Memphis-Shelby County Schools District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Bolton High:

SchoolDigger ranks Bolton High 350^th of 392 Tennessee public high schools. (See Bolton High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

Memphis-Shelby County Schools:

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

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Rank History for Bolton High

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Rank History for all students at Bolton High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TN State Percentile
2016	18.41	298^th	351	15.1%
2018	14.61	306^th	341	10.3%
2019	13.34	312^th	342	8.8%
2021	10.62	317^th	347	8.6%
2022	14.46	311^th	358	13.1%
2023	13.47	344^th	384	10.4%
2024	13.92	350^th	392	10.7%

See the entire list of Tennessee High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Bolton High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TN State Percentile
2021	13.03	125^th	125	0.0%
2023	19.25	145^th	154	5.8%
2024	20.38	168^th	183	8.2%

See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Bolton High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TN State Percentile
2018	26.91	248^th	308	19.5%
2019	17.16	282^nd	302	6.6%
2021	18.94	275^th	317	13.2%
2022	33.79	215^th	322	33.2%
2023	9.44	319^th	330	3.3%
2024	12.19	324^th	337	3.9%

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

Rank History for Female students at Bolton High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TN State Percentile
2019	12.28	311^th	337	7.7%
2021	10.63	310^th	340	8.8%
2022	12.08	313^th	350	10.6%
2023	12.21	330^th	366	9.8%
2024	12.25	335^th	365	8.2%

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

Rank History for Male students at Bolton High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TN State Percentile
2019	13.89	303^rd	329	7.9%
2021	12.98	306^th	332	7.8%
2022	18.74	295^th	349	15.5%
2023	12.44	327^th	359	8.9%
2024	14.45	331^st	366	9.6%

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

Rank History for African American students at Bolton High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TN State Percentile
2018	22.82	168^th	199	15.6%
2019	19.62	170^th	187	9.1%
2021	21.05	177^th	208	14.9%
2022	27.41	165^th	222	25.7%
2023	23.10	189^th	239	20.9%
2024	25.31	180^th	240	25.0%

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

Rank History for Hispanic students at Bolton High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TN State Percentile
2018	32.26	109^th	159	31.4%
2019	20.99	129^th	153	15.7%
2021	20.56	156^th	180	13.3%
2022	20.39	168^th	189	11.1%
2023	25.87	157^th	202	22.3%
2024	13.31	206^th	209	1.4%

See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Bolton High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TN State Percentile
2018	37.37	194^th	307	36.8%
2019	37.76	178^th	301	40.9%
2021	22.06	266^th	306	13.1%

See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for White 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

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Enrollment information for Bolton High

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2014	810	985	59	59	5	7	30	1955
2015	478	1208	48	79	3	3	59	1878
2016	307	1038	36	77	5	1	52	1516
2017	214	995	32	83	1	0	74	1399
2018	124	791	19	72	1	0	43	1050
2019	126	679	10	61	1	0	36	913
2020	86	593	8	61	2	0	27	777
2021	69	573	4	58	1	1	27	733
2022	61	481	3	58	0	1	27	631
2023	46	570	2	63	1	0	28	710

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 Bolton High

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	1955	100.1	19.5	38
2015	1878	92.0	20.4	26.1
2016	1516	100.0	15.1	60.8
2017	1399	71.8	19.4	n/a
2018	1050	65.9	15.9	n/a
2019	913	55.3	16.5	n/a
2020	777	47.7	16.2	n/a
2021	733	37.7	19.4	n/a
2022	631	38.4	16.4	n/a
2023	710	41.6	17.0	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 Bolton High

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	1955	100.1	19.5	38
2015	1878	92.0	20.4	26.1
2016	1516	100.0	15.1	60.8
2017	1399	71.8	19.4	n/a
2018	1050	65.9	15.9	n/a
2019	913	55.3	16.5	n/a
2020	777	47.7	16.2	n/a
2021	733	37.7	19.4	n/a
2022	631	38.4	16.4	n/a
2023	710	41.6	17.0	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 Bolton High

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$946 (8.0%)	$10,167 (86.4%)	$11,764
2020	$839 (7.4%)	$9,923 (87.1%)	$11,389
2021	$1,371 (13.1%)	$8,469 (80.9%)	$10,472
2022	$2,822 (21.3%)	$9,727 (73.5%)	$13,241
2023	$2,685 (21.0%)	$9,389 (73.4%)	$12,799

Data source: Tennessee Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Bolton High

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 312^th of 342 High schools	Ranks 344^th of 384 High schools	1.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
9th Grade English I (Bolton High)	14.9	15.7	0.8%
9th Grade English I (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)	17	18.8	1.8%
9th Grade English I (Tennessee)	33.3	36	2.7%
9th Grade Geometry (Bolton High)	37.5	18.2	19.3%
9th Grade Geometry (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)	49.6	27.2	22.4%
9th Grade Geometry (Tennessee)	79	65.9	13.1%
10th Grade English II (Bolton High)	22.5	28.6	6.1%
10th Grade English II (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)	25.8	37.1	11.3%
10th Grade English II (Tennessee)	44	50.7	6.7%
12th Grade Algebra II (Bolton High)	7.7	7.1	0.6%
12th Grade Algebra II (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)	1.9	4.9	3%
12th Grade Algebra II (Tennessee)	4.5	5	0.5%
12th Grade Geometry (Bolton High)	10	10
12th Grade Geometry (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)	3.3	3.7	0.4%
12th Grade Geometry (Tennessee)	2.9	3.6	0.7%
All Grades English I (Bolton High)	15.2	15.7	0.5%
All Grades English I (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)	16.5	18.5	2%
All Grades English I (Tennessee)	32.7	35.4	2.7%
All Grades English II (Bolton High)	21.1	26.9	5.8%
All Grades English II (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)	24.5	35.6	11.1%
All Grades English II (Tennessee)	42.7	49.4	6.7%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	913	710	22.2%
African American	679	570	16.1%
American Indian	1	1
Asian	10	2	80%
Hispanic	61	63	3.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	126	46	63.5%
Two or More Races	36	28	22.2%

Schools Near Bolton High

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 Algebra I (2024)		TNReady Algebra II (2024)					TNReady Biology I (2024)					TNReady US History (2024)				TNReady English I (2024)		TNReady English II (2024)			TNReady Geometry (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 6th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 7th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	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 Algebra I 9th Grade	TNReady Algebra I All Grades	TNReady Algebra II 9th Grade	TNReady Algebra II 10th Grade	TNReady Algebra II 11th Grade	TNReady Algebra II 12th Grade	TNReady Algebra II All Grades	TNReady Biology I 9th Grade	TNReady Biology I 10th Grade	TNReady Biology I 11th Grade	TNReady Biology I 12th Grade	TNReady Biology I All Grades	TNReady US History 10th Grade	TNReady US History 11th Grade	TNReady US History 12th Grade	TNReady US History All Grades	TNReady English I 9th Grade	TNReady English I All Grades	TNReady English II 9th Grade	TNReady English II 10th Grade	TNReady English II All Grades	TNReady Geometry 9th Grade	TNReady Geometry 10th Grade	TNReady Geometry 11th Grade	TNReady Geometry 12th Grade	TNReady Geometry All Grades	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
Bolton High	Public, Magnet	9-12	7323 Brunswick Rd	Arlington	38002	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(901) 416-1435	710	42	17.0		46 (6.5%)	570 (80.3%)	63 (8.9%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (3.9%)	13.9	350^th of 392 public high schools	10.7%		13.5	344^th of 384 public high schools	10.4%	6																61.9	17.4			22.3		9.5	6.3	8.8	9.2	9.1	25.0	29.4	29.1	22.7				6.0									$12,799	$2,685	$9,389
Arlington High	Public	9-12	5475 Airline RD	Arlington	38002	Shelby County	Arlington	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 867-1541	2,063	110	18.8		1,408 (68.3%)	297 (14.4%)	196 (9.5%)	71 (3.4%)	3 (0.1%)	1 (0.0%)	87 (4.2%)	81.4	36^th of 392 public high schools	90.8%		76.1	43^rd of 384 public high schools	88.8%	7									32.2	31.7		89.7	36.6		48.5	66.1	54.5			64.9		65.9		65.0	56.3	56.2		74.9	74.5		40.3			55.7									$10,502	$935	$9,244
Millington Central Middle High School	Public	7-12	8050 West ST	Millington	38053	Shelby County	Millington Municipal Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 873-8100	1,191	74	16.0		427 (35.9%)	434 (36.4%)	204 (17.1%)	19 (1.6%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	105 (8.8%)	27	288^th of 392 public high schools	26.5%		30.3	273^rd of 384 public high schools	28.9%	15		20.3	28.0	24.0		20.3	18.0	19.2	13.2	12.8		44.4	10.1		13.7	77.3	25.5			37.0					18.4	18.3		44.4	43.3	30.0	18.0			17.6		24.7	34.1	29.3		24.7	30.6	27.6	$11,732	$1,323	$9,644
Munford High School	Public	9-12	1080 McLaughlin DR	Munford	38058	Tipton County	Tipton County	No	No	No	No	(901) 837-5701	1,195	67	17.8		898 (75.1%)	173 (14.5%)	63 (5.3%)	10 (0.8%)	4 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	46 (3.8%)	66.8	87^th of 392 public high schools	77.8%		66	73^rd of 384 public high schools	81.0%	14									37.0	33.8		46.0	31.7	7.1	44.1	85.0	40.9	13.3		50.2					41.6	41.6		58.7	58.7		33.6	37.8		34.8									$9,069	$804	$7,845
Bartlett High School	Public	9-12	5688 Woodlawn AVE	Bartlett	38134	Shelby County	Bartlett	No	No	No	No	(901) 373-2620	2,851	155	18.4		1,480 (51.9%)	887 (31.1%)	236 (8.3%)	94 (3.3%)	9 (0.3%)	4 (0.1%)	141 (4.9%)	72.4	65^th of 392 public high schools	83.4%		70.4	57^th of 384 public high schools	85.2%	8									22.1	21.6		77.1	36.9		43.8	76.6	55.4	30.8		59.9	69.7	51.5		54.3	47.6	47.6	18.5	68.5	66.1	71.2	30.9	13.3		38.3									$10,477	$852	$9,199
Cordova High School	Public	9-12	1800 Berryhill RD	Cordova	38016	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-4312	2,110	102	20.6		143 (6.8%)	1,257 (59.6%)	570 (27.0%)	19 (0.9%)	2 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	119 (5.6%)	20	325^th of 392 public high schools	17.1%		23.9	311^th of 384 public high schools	19.0%	14											17.8	5.9	5.1	9.1	6.9	23.1	16.3		23.1	22.0	6.0	16.0		13.1	20.9	19.9	9.5	41.6	40.1		22.3	17.4	9.5	17.9									$12,744	$2,554	$9,657
Brighton High School	Public	9-12	8045 Hwy 51 South	Brighton	38011	Tipton County	Tipton County	No	No	No	No	(901) 837-5800	1,142	69	16.4		827 (72.4%)	197 (17.3%)	51 (4.5%)	12 (1.1%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	52 (4.6%)	37.2	235^th of 392 public high schools	40.1%		58.6	122^nd of 384 public high schools	68.2%	113									9.5	8.8		76.9	23.2		28.3	42.5	17.1			36.8					29.8	29.8		54.8	53.7	90.5	23.1	14.3		27.1									$9,637	$795	$8,434
Craigmont High	Public, Magnet	9-12	3333 Covington Pike	Memphis	38128	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(901) 416-4312	779	51	15.2		21 (2.7%)	652 (83.7%)	67 (8.6%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (4.7%)	18.1	333^rd of 392 public high schools	15.1%		15	334^th of 384 public high schools	13.0%	1											38.5	5.1	7.5	6.5	8.4	8.3	19.6			18.8		8.7	40.0	17.1	9.3	9.0	10.0	37.7	36.3	30.0	12.9	15.7	8.6	14.0									$13,274	$2,668	$9,970
Raleigh-Egypt High	Public	6-12	3970 Voltaire Ave	Memphis	38128	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-4108	714	39	18.5		8 (1.1%)	573 (80.3%)	107 (15.0%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (3.4%)	22.3	316^th of 392 public high schools	19.4%		15.7	332^nd of 384 public high schools	13.5%	16									15.8	15.7		5.0	8.7		6.8	21.9	28.2			27.0	11.1			10.5	9.4	9.7	6.9	27.5	23.7	13.6	32.3			29.9									$13,013	$2,693	$9,505
Memphis School of Excellence Cordova	Public, Charter	6-12	8360 Macon RD	Cordova	38018	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	Yes	No	No	No	(901) 421-6825	295	19	15.9		27 (9.2%)	184 (62.4%)	63 (21.4%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.1%)	35.4	251^st of 392 public high schools	36.0%		14.8	335^th of 384 public high schools	12.8%	84	23.5	16.3	20.0	19.9	21.0	18.8	18.6	19.5	22.2	21.7			6.3		5.9	41.3				37.7	20.0			20.0	30.4	30.4		40.5	40.5		25.0			26.8	25.9	43.8	37.1	35.5	28.4	28.8	28.6	28.6	$16,339	$3,450	$12,573

Frequently Asked Questions about Bolton High

Is Bolton High a good school?

Bolton High ranks in the bottom 10.7% of Tennessee high schools.

What district is Bolton High in?

Memphis-Shelby County Schools

What schools feed into Bolton High?

Bolton High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Barret's Chapel Elementary/Middle
Elementary : Lucy Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Bolton High?

Students at Bolton High are 80% African American, 9% Hispanic, 6% White, 4% Two or more races.

How many students attend Bolton High?

In the 2022-23 school year, 710 students attended Bolton 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.