Memphis Merit Academy

Summary:

Memphis Merit Academy is a public charter elementary school serving 291 students in grades K-5 in Memphis, Tennessee, which is part of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district. While the school aims to provide a high-quality education, the data reveals that it is consistently underperforming compared to its peers.

One key factor is the school's racial makeup, with 94.16% of students being African American, which is significantly higher than the 30-82% range at surrounding schools like Getwell Elementary, South Park Elementary, and Willow Oaks Elementary. Academically, Memphis Merit Academy consistently ranks in the bottom 10% of Tennessee elementary schools, with proficiency rates in math, English language arts, and science that are significantly lower than district and state averages. Additionally, the school has experienced significant fluctuations in its student-teacher ratio, ranging from 24.7 to 89 students per teacher, which could be a contributing factor to its academic struggles.

Despite spending significantly more per student ($14,536 in 2020-2021) compared to nearby schools, which range from $10,151 to $12,489 per student, Memphis Merit Academy's performance has remained stagnant or even declined over the past three years. This suggests that factors beyond just academic instruction, such as school climate, teacher quality, and resource allocation, may be impacting the school's ability to effectively serve its predominantly African American student population. Addressing these challenges will be crucial for improving academic outcomes at Memphis Merit Academy.

Detail:

Public, Charter K-5

4775 American Way
Memphis, TN 38118

(901) 617-3690

District: Memphis-Shelby County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
971^st of 1,018 Tennessee Elementary Schools

Student/teacher ratio: 41.5

Number of students: 291

Racial breakdown:

African American:

94.2%

Hispanic:

3.4%

Two or more races:

2.1%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Memphis Merit Academy ranks worse than 95.4% of elementary schools in Tennessee. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 8.83. (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

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Teachers

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Finance

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Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Memphis Merit Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Memphis Merit Academy 971^st of 1018 Tennessee public elementary schools. (See Memphis Merit Academy 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.)

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Rank History for Memphis Merit Academy

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Rank History for all students at Memphis Merit Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	TN State Percentile
2022	12.53	914^th	1000	8.6%
2023	10.64	942^nd	1020	7.6%
2024	8.83	971^st	1018	4.6%

See the entire list of Tennessee Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Memphis Merit Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	TN State Percentile
2022	19.36	777^th	858	9.4%
2023	12.61	828^th	865	4.3%
2024	11.50	834^th	853	2.2%

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

Rank History for Female students at Memphis Merit Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	TN State Percentile
2022	29.29	695^th	975	28.7%
2023	17.15	843^rd	989	14.8%
2024	11.59	918^th	990	7.3%

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

Rank History for Male students at Memphis Merit Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	TN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	8.96	947^th	987	4.1%
2024	8.33	961^st	991	3.0%

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

Rank History for African American students at Memphis Merit Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	TN State Percentile
2022	27.28	354^th	483	26.7%
2023	21.85	412^th	500	17.6%
2024	20.20	431^st	498	13.5%

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

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Enrollment information for Memphis Merit Academy

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Year	African American	Hispanic	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2020	106	5	0	2	113
2021	170	5	0	3	178
2022	212	6	0	5	223
2023	274	10	1	6	291

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 Memphis Merit Academy

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2020	113	7.0	16.1	n/a
2021	178	2.0	89.0	n/a
2022	223	9.0	24.7	n/a
2023	291	7.0	41.5	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 Memphis Merit Academy

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2020	113	7.0	16.1	n/a
2021	178	2.0	89.0	n/a
2022	223	9.0	24.7	n/a
2023	291	7.0	41.5	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 Memphis Merit Academy

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2020	$741 (7.3%)	$9,253 (91.2%)	$10,150
2021	$1,664 (11.4%)	$12,647 (87.0%)	$14,536
2022	$2,630 (15.9%)	$13,623 (82.3%)	$16,551
2023	$3,762 (23.9%)	$11,681 (74.1%)	$15,758

Data source: Tennessee Department of Education

Schools Near Memphis Merit Academy

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
Memphis Merit Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	4775 American Way	Memphis	38118	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(901) 617-3690	291	7	41.5		0 (0.0%)	274 (94.2%)	10 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	6 (2.1%)	8.8	971^st of 1018 public elementary schools	4.6%		10.6	942^nd of 1020 public elementary schools	7.6%	29	5.9	15.4	18.2				12.8	15.4	12.5	21.2				15.4	17.3	20.0	15.2				18.0					$15,758	$3,762	$11,681
Evans Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4949 Cottonwood Rd	Memphis	38118	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-2504	400	26	15.3		6 (1.5%)	253 (63.3%)	127 (31.8%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.0%)	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
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	33	0	100.0		3 (9.1%)	24 (72.7%)	5 (15.2%)	1 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																										$28,010	$2,635	$25,375
Willow Oaks Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	4417 Willow Rd	Memphis	38117	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(901) 416-2196	648	47	14.0		17 (2.6%)	267 (41.2%)	352 (54.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (1.9%)	21.6	826^th of 1018 public elementary schools	18.9%		16.1	870^th of 1020 public elementary schools	14.7%	44	23.5	12.1	32.1				23.0	34.6	23.3	30.8				29.5	22.2	20.9	22.6				21.9					$13,477	$2,696	$9,856
Parkway Village Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3000 Claudette RD	Memphis	38118	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-0870	828	63	13.1		8 (1.0%)	369 (44.6%)	441 (53.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.1%)	16.1	881^st of 1018 public elementary schools	13.5%		13.3	912^th of 1020 public elementary schools	10.6%	31	21.8	24.0	24.3				23.4	20.2	19.0	17.6				18.9	19.3	27.3	25.0				23.9					$14,279	$2,929	$10,432
Leadership Preparatory Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	4190 Elliston RD	Memphis	38111	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(901) 512-4495	419	27	15.3		7 (1.7%)	323 (77.1%)	77 (18.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.9%)	54.6	413^th of 1018 public elementary schools	59.4%		29.6	734^th of 1020 public elementary schools	28.0%	321	33.3	40.7	42.6	40.7	32.4	37.8	38.6	33.3	61.1	35.2	42.4	29.4	18.9	38.6	38.1	48.1	38.9	45.8	52.9	40.5	43.9	40.7	58.8	59.5	50.8	$18,713	$4,889	$13,508
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	506	32	15.8		3 (0.6%)	415 (82.0%)	73 (14.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.0%)	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
Sheffield Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4290 Chuck Ave	Memphis	38118	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-2360	510	32	16.1		5 (1.0%)	157 (30.8%)	341 (66.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.4%)	10	954^th of 1018 public elementary schools	6.3%		11.6	937^th of 1020 public elementary schools	8.1%	17	14.5	7.0	14.7				12.0	10.0		10.3				8.3	29.0	19.7	17.6				22.1					$14,898	$2,556	$10,901
Getwell Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2795 Getwell Road	Memphis	38118	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-0267	514	32	16.0		5 (1.0%)	390 (75.9%)	118 (23.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9.5	958^th of 1018 public elementary schools	5.9%		9.9	951^st of 1020 public elementary schools	6.8%	7	13.8	15.1	5.6				11.4	22.8	15.3	12.9				16.6	25.0	20.5	11.8				18.8					$15,206	$3,245	$10,480
South Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1720 Getwell RD	Memphis	38111	Shelby County	Memphis-Shelby County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(901) 416-5024	518	32	16.1		12 (2.3%)	201 (38.8%)	296 (57.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.5%)	10.6	945^th of 1018 public elementary schools	7.2%		8.8	971^st of 1020 public elementary schools	4.8%	26	17.2						8.0	22.2	9.1	14.7				16.0	26.6	9.1	7.4				14.8					$14,472	$2,543	$10,876

Frequently Asked Questions about Memphis Merit Academy

What district is Memphis Merit Academy in?

Memphis-Shelby County Schools

How many students attend Memphis Merit Academy?

In the 2022-23 school year, 291 students attended Memphis Merit Academy.

Is Memphis Merit Academy a good school?

Memphis Merit Academy ranks in the bottom 4.6% of Tennessee elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Memphis Merit Academy?

Students at Memphis Merit Academy are 94% African American, 3% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

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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.