Booker T Washington High School is a public secondary school located north of Downtown Memphis, on the southside of Memphis, Tennessee, United States. The school was administered by the Memphis City Schools system, until the beginning of the 2013-14 year, it was served by the Shelby County Schools district.
Serving 436 students in grades 6-12, B. T. Washington High School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Tennessee for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 7% (which is lower than the Tennessee state average of 34%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 4% (which is lower than the Tennessee state average of 37%).
Quick Facts (26-27)
- Grades: 6-12
- Enrollment: 436 students
- Graduation Rate: 75-79% (Btm 50% in TN)
- Overall Testing Rank: Bottom 50%
- Math Proficiency: 7% (Btm 50%)
- Reading Proficiency: 4% (Btm 50%)
- Science Proficiency: ≤5% (Btm 50%)
- Attendance Zone: B T Washington High School serves the west part of Memphis, TN, encompassing an area of approximately 3.8 square miles. Most students live within a 5-10 minute drive of the school, with an average distance of 1.2 miles to the edge of the attendance zone.
- Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), TN Dept. of Education
School Overview
B. T. Washington High School's student population of 436 students has declined by 9% over five school years.
Grades Offered
Grades 6-12
(No virtual instruction)
(No virtual instruction)
Total Students
436 students
Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓
Total Classroom Teachers (23-24)
40 teachers
Showing 2015–2024. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓
Year Founded
1926
School Calendar
School Motto
We’re tops! We lead and others follow!
School Rankings
B. T. Washington High School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 1,728 schools in Tennessee (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of B. T. Washington High School is 0.04, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.62. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall Testing Rank
#1707 out of 1728 schools
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
7%
34%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
4%
37%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
≤5%
40%
Hispanic
1%
16%
Black
98%
20%
Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓
Two or more races
1%
5%
Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓
Graduation Rate
75-79%
87.3%
Chronically Absent Students
(22-23)9.6%
23.6%
Participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Yes
Eligible for Free Lunch
86%
45%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
3%
6%
School Statewide Testing
School District Name
Sports
School Mascot
Warrior
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), TN Dept. of Education
Frequently Asked Questions
What is B. T. Washington High School's ranking?
B. T. Washington High School is ranked #1707 out of 1,728 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Tennessee.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
7% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 34% TN state average), while 4% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 37% TN state average).
What is the graduation rate of B. T. Washington High School?
The graduation rate of B. T. Washington High School is 75-79%, which is lower than the Tennessee state average of 87.3%.
How many students attend B. T. Washington High School?
436 students attend B. T. Washington High School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
98% of B. T. Washington High School students are Black, 1% of students are Hispanic, and 1% of students are Two or more races.
What grades does B. T. Washington High School offer ?
B. T. Washington High School offers enrollment in grades 6-12 (No virtual instruction).
What school district is B. T. Washington High School part of?
B. T. Washington High School is part of Memphis-Shelby County Schools.
In what neighborhood is B. T. Washington High School located?
B. T. Washington High School is located in the New Pathways neighborhood of Memphis, TN. There are 3 other public schools located in New Pathways.
School Reviews
Review B. T. Washington High School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:
- Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
- Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Recent Articles
How Much Choice Do High School Students Have?
Learn how graduation requirements, prerequisites, electives, staffing, scheduling conflicts, AP courses, dual enrollment, and career pathways determine how much control high school students have over schedules each year.
Does Your Child Need More Recess?
Explore whether your child may benefit more from recess than another academic period, including research on attention, learning, physical activity, stress, social development, and school-day balance today.
Combined Grade Classrooms, What Parents Should Know
Learn how combined-grade classrooms work, why public schools use them, potential benefits and challenges, and the questions parents should ask before enrolling their child in one today.
