Is City University School Of Liberal Arts a good school?

City University School Of Liberal Arts ranks in the bottom 18.1% of Tennessee high schools.

How many students attend City University School Of Liberal Arts?

In the 2023-24 school year, 201 students attended City University School Of Liberal Arts.

What is the racial makeup of City University School Of Liberal Arts?

Students at City University School Of Liberal Arts are 91% African American, 5% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

City University School Of Liberal Arts

Summary:

City University School Of Liberal Arts is a public charter high school serving grades 9-12 in Memphis, Tennessee, with a student population of 227. The school is part of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district, which is ranked 134 out of 139 districts in the state and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

City University School Of Liberal Arts has a predominantly African American student population, ranging from 95.15% to 96.06% over the past 3 years, which is significantly higher than the racial makeup of nearby schools like Oakhaven High (83.03% African American), Westwood High (96.55% African American), and Whitehaven High (93.95% African American). Academically, the school consistently ranks in the bottom quarter of Tennessee high schools, with proficiency rates significantly lower than the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district and the state of Tennessee averages across various subjects and grade levels.

However, the school performs better in some student subgroups compared to the overall school ranking, with the African American and low socioeconomic status students ranking higher than the overall school. This suggests that these students may be demonstrating resilience and academic potential, which could be further leveraged through targeted support and resources. The school's per-student spending and student-teacher ratio have also fluctuated significantly, indicating the need for a deeper examination of the factors contributing to the school's persistent low performance and the exploration of strategies to address the racial and socioeconomic disparities observed in the local education system.

Detail:

Public, Charter 9-12

1475 E. Shelby DR
Memphis, TN 38116

(901) 775-2219

District: Memphis-Shelby County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
321^st of 392 Tennessee High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $16,803

Student/teacher ratio: 13.1

Number of students: 201

Racial breakdown:

African American:

91.0%

Hispanic:

5.5%

Two or more races:

3.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 84.4%

See top rated Tennessee high schools

Compare City University School Of Liberal Arts to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details City University School Of Liberal Arts ranks worse than 81.9% of high schools in Tennessee. It also ranks 21^st among 41 ranked high schools in the Memphis-Shelby County Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 21.11. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at City University School Of Liberal Arts who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

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

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 (91%), Hispanic (5.5%), two or more races (3%). (See more...)

Compare Details

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at City University School Of Liberal Arts is 13.1, which is the 15^th best among 41 high schools in the Memphis-Shelby County Schools District. (See more...)

Compare City University School Of Liberal Arts employs 15.3 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at City University School Of Liberal Arts is $16,803, which is the 11^th highest among 41 high schools in the Memphis-Shelby County Schools District.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

City University School Of Liberal Arts:

SchoolDigger ranks City University School Of Liberal Arts 321^st of 392 Tennessee public high schools. (See City University School Of Liberal Arts in the ranking list.)

High 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.)

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Rank History for City University School Of Liberal Arts

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Rank History for all students at City University School Of Liberal Arts

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TN State Percentile
2016	11.06	318^th	351	9.4%
2018	14.38	309^th	341	9.4%
2019	21.74	284^th	342	17.0%
2021	8.76	325^th	347	6.3%
2022	24.57	285^th	358	20.4%
2023	16.11	329^th	384	14.3%
2024	21.11	321^st	392	18.1%

See the entire list of Tennessee High School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at City University School Of Liberal Arts

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TN State Percentile
2018	28.99	242^nd	308	21.4%
2019	27.54	236^th	302	21.9%
2021	17.97	278^th	317	12.3%
2022	37.35	196^th	322	39.1%
2023	26.86	258^th	330	21.8%
2024	44.54	168^th	337	50.1%

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

Rank History for Female students at City University School Of Liberal Arts

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TN State Percentile
2019	19.19	290^th	337	13.9%
2021	5.40	333^rd	340	2.1%
2022	15.93	299^th	350	14.6%
2023	16.29	319^th	366	12.8%
2024	18.52	312^th	365	14.5%

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

Rank History for Male students at City University School Of Liberal Arts

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TN State Percentile
2019	24.59	270^th	329	17.9%
2021	13.48	305^th	332	8.1%
2022	32.43	237^th	349	32.1%
2023	15.41	317^th	359	11.7%
2024	18.84	309^th	366	15.6%

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

Rank History for African American students at City University School Of Liberal Arts

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TN State Percentile
2018	30.13	132^nd	199	33.7%
2019	39.94	99^th	187	47.1%
2021	18.71	182^nd	208	12.5%
2022	39.32	119^th	222	46.4%
2023	29.46	166^th	239	30.5%
2024	32.15	149^th	240	37.9%

See the entire list of Best Tennessee High 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

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Enrollment information for City University School Of Liberal Arts

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	Two or More Races	Total
2014	0	310	0	3	0	313
2015	0	286	0	3	1	290
2016	1	299	0	1	0	301
2017	0	289	0	2	2	293
2018	0	272	1	0	0	273
2019	0	266	1	0	2	269
2020	1	248	1	1	2	253
2021	1	244	1	7	1	254
2022	1	220	0	7	2	230
2023	0	216	0	5	6	227
2024	1	183	0	11	6	201

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 City University School Of Liberal Arts

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	313	15.0	20.8	76
2015	290	15.0	19.3	54.5
2016	301	13.0	23.1	84.4
2017	293	4.4	66.5	n/a
2018	273	10.0	27.3	n/a
2019	269	10.0	26.9	n/a
2020	253	18.0	14.0	n/a
2021	254	8.0	31.7	n/a
2022	230	12.3	18.6	n/a
2023	227	10.4	21.6	n/a
2024	201	15.3	13.1	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 City University School Of Liberal Arts

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	313	15.0	20.8	76
2015	290	15.0	19.3	54.5
2016	301	13.0	23.1	84.4
2017	293	4.4	66.5	n/a
2018	273	10.0	27.3	n/a
2019	269	10.0	26.9	n/a
2020	253	18.0	14.0	n/a
2021	254	8.0	31.7	n/a
2022	230	12.3	18.6	n/a
2023	227	10.4	21.6	n/a
2024	201	15.3	13.1	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 City University School Of Liberal Arts

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$808 (10.0%)	$7,147 (88.1%)	$8,115
2020	$840 (17.7%)	$3,749 (79.0%)	$4,746
2021	$1,216 (8.6%)	$12,650 (89.6%)	$14,114
2022	$3,116 (18.1%)	$13,830 (80.2%)	$17,245
2023	$3,701 (22.0%)	$12,787 (76.1%)	$16,803

Data source: Tennessee Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on City University School Of Liberal Arts

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 284^th of 342 High schools	Ranks 329^th of 384 High schools	2.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
9th Grade Algebra I (City University School Of Liberal Arts)	13.2	6.8	6.4%
9th Grade Algebra I (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)	8.7	5.9	2.8%
9th Grade Algebra I (Tennessee)	21.8	15.5	6.3%
9th Grade English I (City University School Of Liberal Arts)	9	12.3	3.3%
9th Grade English I (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)	17	18.8	1.8%
9th Grade English I (Tennessee)	33.3	36	2.7%
10th Grade US History (City University School Of Liberal Arts)	13	25.7	12.7%
10th Grade US History (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)	5.8	15	9.2%
10th Grade US History (Tennessee)	15.3	25.5	10.2%
10th Grade English II (City University School Of Liberal Arts)	27.3	35.2	7.9%
10th Grade English II (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)	25.8	37.1	11.3%
10th Grade English II (Tennessee)	44	50.7	6.7%
11th Grade US History (City University School Of Liberal Arts)	26.3	6.7	19.6%
11th Grade US History (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)	17.1	32	14.9%
11th Grade US History (Tennessee)	29.6	39.7	10.1%
11th Grade Geometry (City University School Of Liberal Arts)	19.2	6.1	13.1%
11th Grade Geometry (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)	11.2	8.3	2.9%
11th Grade Geometry (Tennessee)	20	17.1	2.9%
All Grades Algebra I (City University School Of Liberal Arts)	13	8.3	4.7%
All Grades Algebra I (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)	12.1	7.7	4.4%
All Grades Algebra I (Tennessee)	27.4	20.7	6.7%
All Grades US History (City University School Of Liberal Arts)	15.7	22.4	6.7%
All Grades US History (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)	13.9	21.6	7.7%
All Grades US History (Tennessee)	28.6	37.7	9.1%
All Grades English I (City University School Of Liberal Arts)	9	12.3	3.3%
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 (City University School Of Liberal Arts)	27.9	35.2	7.3%
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	269	227	15.6%
African American	266	216	18.8%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	1	0	100%
Hispanic	0	5
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	0	0
Two or More Races	2	6	200%

Schools Near City University School Of Liberal Arts

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 10th Grade	TNReady Algebra I All Grades	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
City University School Of Liberal Arts	Public, Charter	9-12	1475 E. Shelby DR	Memphis	38116	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(901) 775-2219	201	15	13.1		1 (0.5%)	183 (91.0%)	11 (5.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.0%)	21.1	321^st of 392 public high schools	18.1%		16.1	329^th of 384 public high schools	14.3%	8																	18.6			17.8	17.8			18.9	8.3	8.3		32.7	32.7			12.8		6.2									$16,803	$3,701	$12,787
City University School of Independence	Public, Charter	9-12	1475 East Shelby DR	Memphis	38116	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(901) 775-2219	14	1	10.1		0 (0.0%)	14 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																									23.1	23.1																	$9,516	$3,516	$5,684
Whitehaven High	Public, Magnet	9-12	4851 Elvis Presley Blvd	Memphis	38116	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(901) 416-3000	1,549	82	18.8		4 (0.3%)	1,455 (93.9%)	23 (1.5%)	2 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	64 (4.1%)	62.6	109^th of 392 public high schools	72.2%		49.7	155^th of 384 public high schools	59.6%	46									55.0		54.0	46.8	44.4	29.8	43.8		50.0	34.6	26.3	34.2		68.7	63.6	69.9	19.8	19.5		34.9	34.8		54.5	33.3	7.1	51.9									$12,651	$2,380	$9,644
Hillcrest High School	Public, Charter	9-12	4184 Graceland DR	Memphis	38116	Shelby County	Achievement School District	Yes	No	No	Yes	(901) 730-4098	441	20	22.0		1 (0.2%)	413 (93.7%)	23 (5.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.5%)	10.7	363^rd of 392 public high schools	7.4%		6.6	372^nd of 384 public high schools	3.1%	9													6.6	21.4	8.6		9.0			7.6					12.6	12.5		15.7	14.7
Freedom Prep Middle - Brownlee	Public, Charter	6-12	817 Brownlee RD	Memphis	38116	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(901) 538-9500	317	16	20.4		1 (0.3%)	244 (77.0%)	65 (20.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.2%)								(n/a)	8.0	23.8	18.9	16.9	20.0	18.3	9.4	15.8																											30.0	37.9	27.4	31.7	35.4	23.3	20.8	26.3	$13,500	$3,581	$9,603
Fairley High School	Public, Charter	9-12	4950 Fairley RD	Memphis	38109	Shelby County	Achievement School District	Yes	No	No	Yes	(901) 730-8160	480	21	23.4		2 (0.4%)	470 (97.9%)	5 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	6.2	387^th of 392 public high schools	1.3%		5	379^th of 384 public high schools	1.3%	8													5.4		5.0		6.2			6.1					8.2	8.2		16.2	16.0
Freedom Preparatory Academy Flagship	Public, Charter	6-12	5132 Jonetta ST	Memphis	38109	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(901) 538-9500	723	47	15.3		1 (0.1%)	607 (84.0%)	104 (14.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (1.5%)	18.5	332^nd of 392 public high schools	15.3%		12.5	347^th of 384 public high schools	9.6%	15	6.8	13.3	16.9	12.3	18.2	7.9	21.7	15.8				51.7	8.2		21.7	17.5				17.1		12.5		11.3	22.4	22.2		43.9	42.1	9.5	8.2			9.0	12.5	26.7	33.3	24.0	43.7	24.7	28.0	32.2	$14,553	$3,988	$10,249
Southwest Career Technology Center	Public	9-12	3746 Horn Lake RD	Memphis	38109	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	No	(901) 416-8186	0	6	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Oakhaven High	Public	9-12	3125 Ladbrook Rd	Memphis	38118	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-2300	373	25	14.7		2 (0.5%)	313 (83.9%)	52 (13.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.6%)	30.3	272^nd of 392 public high schools	30.6%		25.2	300^th of 384 public high schools	21.9%	28									6.5	30.0	8.5		7.7		7.2		27.1			25.0					29.9	29.1		42.2	42.2		26.0			24.1									$13,885	$2,534	$10,420
Westwood High	Public	9-12	4480 Westmont Rd	Memphis	38109	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-8000	329	21	15.3		0 (0.0%)	317 (96.4%)	6 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.8%)	14.5	346^th of 392 public high schools	11.7%		8.3	362^nd of 384 public high schools	5.7%	16													6.7				19.1			12.2					11.0	10.7	10.0	32.2	28.6														$15,131	$2,917	$11,203

City University School Of Liberal Arts

City University School Of Liberal Arts:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Memphis-Shelby County Schools:

What do you think?

Rank History for City University School Of Liberal Arts

Rank History for all students at City University School Of Liberal Arts

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at City University School Of Liberal Arts

Rank History for Female students at City University School Of Liberal Arts

Rank History for Male students at City University School Of Liberal Arts

Rank History for African American students at City University School Of Liberal Arts

Enrollment information for City University School Of Liberal Arts

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at City University School Of Liberal Arts

Student/Teacher Ratio City University School Of Liberal Arts

Per Pupil Expenditures for City University School Of Liberal Arts

Impact of COVID-19 on City University School Of Liberal Arts

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near City University School Of Liberal Arts