New rankings show Memphis's top-rated and most-improved charter elementary schools

New rankings show Memphis's top-rated and most-improved charter elementary schoolsPhoto: Unsplash
Hoodline
Published on August 20, 2019

How do the charter elementary schools in Memphis stack up?

We analyzed newly released data from Niche.com — including comprehensive report cards, rankings and reviews — to find out how schools in your area are performing and which have made the biggest leaps over the past year.

Cornerstone Prep - Lester Campus' overall rating improved the most among similar schools in Memphis, rising from a D to a D+, according to data from Niche.

For the 2019-2020 school year, the school, located at 320 Carpenter St., enrolls 497 students. Niche graded the school a C- for academics (on an A-D scale).

The overall ranking comes from Niche's proprietary algorithms. A school's ranking might change due to many factors, including the relative rankings of similar schools and whether a school gained or lost peers due to openings or closings. Other numbers come from current public data from the U.S. government.

Academically, 16% of Cornerstone Prep's students scored as proficient or above in math, and 9% did so in reading. That's compared to city averages of 15% in math and 13% in reading. The school's improved overall rating is notable in that it serves a less-affluent population, with 84% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, 12% more than the city average.

It's not the only school that's climbed Niche's rankings this year. Aurora Collegiate Academy saw its overall rating jump from a C- to a C. The school is located at 894 Isabelle St. and is a bit smaller, currently serving 276 students, of whom 60% identify as Hispanic and 36% identify as black.

Niche graded Aurora Collegiate Academy a C for academics on an A-D scale. The school's latest math proficiency was at 27%, and reading proficiency was 22%.

While some charter elementary schools in Memphis are moving up the ranks, others are consistently top-rated overall, including:

  • Leadership Preparatory Charter School, with an overall rating of B-.
  • Power Center Academy Elementary School, with a C+ rating overall.
  • Arrow Academy of Excellence, rated C+ overall.

Want more of the latest intel on Memphis schools? Hoodline also analyzed the latest Niche ratings for the city's public middle schools.


This story was created automatically using data from Niche.com, then reviewed by an editor before publication. Click here for more about how and why Hoodline is automating local news. Got thoughts about what we're doing? Go here to share your feedback.