Top Rankings
Memphis-Shelby County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Tennessee for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 222 public schools serving 111,125 students in Memphis-Shelby County Schools. This district's average testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Tennessee.
Public Schools in Memphis-Shelby County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 16% (versus the Tennessee public school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 23% (versus the 37% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 95% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Tennessee public school average of 43% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (TN)
# Schools
223 Schools
1,914 Schools
# Students
111,125 Students
1,002,390 Students
# Teachers
n/a
6 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
n/a
n/a
Student By Grade
District Rank
Memphis-Shelby County Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 147 school districts in Tennessee (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 81% has increased from 79% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#137 out of 147 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
18%
34%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
23%
37%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
21%
40%
Graduation Rate
81%
90%