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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Shelby County Public Middle Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 88 public middle schools serving 47,504 students in Shelby County, TN.
The top-ranked public middle schools in Shelby County, TN are Maxine Smith Steam Academy, Riverdale Elementary School and Houston Middle School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Shelby County, TN public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 24% (versus the Tennessee public middle school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 27% (versus the 34% statewide average). Middle schools in Shelby County have an average ranking of 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Tennessee public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 84% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Tennessee public middle school average of 40% (majority Black).

Best Public Middle Schools in Shelby County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Maxine Smith Steam Academy
(Math: 72% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
750 E Parkway S
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 416-4536
Gr: 6-8 | 439 students Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #22.
Riverdale Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
7391 Neshoba Rd
Germantown, TN 38138
(901) 756-2300
Gr: PK-8 | 1,184 students Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Houston Middle School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
9400 Wolf River Blvd
Germantown, TN 38139
(901) 756-2366
Gr: 6-8 | 972 students Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
West Collierville Middle School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
935 S Colbert St
Collierville, TN 38017
(901) 854-2345
Gr: 6-8 | 1,348 students Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #55.
Arlington Middle School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
5470 Lamb Rd
Arlington, TN 38002
(901) 867-6015
Gr: 6-8 | 960 students Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #66.
Lakeland Preparatory School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
5020 Lions Crest Dr
Arlington, TN 38002
(901) 867-5412
Gr: 5-11 | 1,509 students Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #77.
J. P. Freeman Elementary Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
5250 Tulane Rd
Memphis, TN 38109
(901) 416-3156
Gr: K-8 | 432 students
Rank: #88.
Collierville Middle School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
580 Quinn Rd
Collierville, TN 38017
(901) 853-3320
Gr: 6-8 | 815 students Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #99.
White Station Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
5465 Mason Rd
Memphis, TN 38120
(901) 416-2184
Gr: 6-8 | 1,127 students Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #1010.
Shrine School
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
4259 Forest View Dr
Memphis, TN 38118
(901) 416-2400
Gr: PK-12 | 126 students Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Appling Middle School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
3700 Appling Rd
Memphis, TN 38133
(901) 373-1410
Gr: 6-8 | 593 students Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Bon Lin Middle School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
3862 Germantown Rd
Memphis, TN 38133
(901) 347-1520
Gr: 6-8 | 677 students Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #1313.
Elmore Park Middle School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
6330 Althorne Rd
Memphis, TN 38134
(901) 373-2642
Gr: 6-8 | 777 students Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #1414.
E.e. Jeter Elementary Middle School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
7662 Benjestown Rd
Millington, TN 38053
(901) 416-2955
Gr: PK-8 | 356 students Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #1515.
Germantown Online Academy Of Learning
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
3350 S. Forest Hill Irene Rd
Germantown, TN 38138
(901) 757-6479
Gr: K-12 | 84 students Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #1616.
Memphis Rise Academy
Charter School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
5221 Raleigh Lagrange Rd
Memphis, TN 38122
(901) 379-5750
Gr: 6-12 | 753 students Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1717.
Journey East Academy
Charter School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 24%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
6870 Winchester Rd
Memphis, TN 38115
(901) 567-7086
Gr: K-8 | 376 students Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1818.
Compass Community School Hickory Hill Campus
Charter School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
3572 Emerald
Memphis, TN 38115
(901) 546-9926
Gr: K-8 | 241 students Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1919.
Germantown Middle School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
7925 Cd Smith Rd
Germantown, TN 38138
(901) 416-0950
Gr: 6-8 | 606 students Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2020.
Snowden Elementary Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1870 N Parkway
Memphis, TN 38112
(901) 416-4621
Gr: PK-8 | 1,384 students Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #2121.
Memphis School Of Excellence Cordova
Charter School
(Math: 17% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
8360 Macon Rd
Cordova, TN 38018
(901) 421-6825
Gr: 6-12 | 448 students Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #2222.
Millington Central Middle High School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
8050 West St
Millington, TN 38053
(901) 873-8100
Gr: 7-12 | 1,193 students Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #2323.
Leadership Preparatory Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
4190 Elliston Rd
Memphis, TN 38111
(901) 512-4495
Gr: K-8 | 462 students Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2424.
Barret's Chapel Elementary Middle School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 21%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
10280 Godwin Rd
Arlington, TN 38002
(901) 416-0325
Gr: PK-8 | 300 students Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #2525.
Compass Community School Orange Mound Campus
Charter School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2718 Lamar Ave
Memphis, TN 38114
(901) 743-6700
Gr: K-8 | 203 students Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #2626.
Bellevue Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
575 S Bellevue Blvd
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 416-4488
Gr: 6-8 | 625 students Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #2727.
Colonial Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 21%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1370 Colonial Rd
Memphis, TN 38117
(901) 416-8980
Gr: 6-8 | 1,034 students Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2828.
Craigmont Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 17% | Reading: 20%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3455 Covington Pike
Memphis, TN 38128
(901) 416-7780
Gr: 6-8 | 475 students Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2929.
Dexter School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
7105 Dexter Rd
Cordova, TN 38016
(901) 416-0355
Gr: PK-8 | 1,509 students Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #30 - 3130. - 31.
City University School Girls Preparatory
Charter School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1475 East Shelby Dr
Memphis, TN 38116
(901) 775-2219
Gr: 6-8 | 94 students
Rank: #30 - 3130. - 31.
Compass Community School Binghampton Campus
Charter School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2540 Hale Ave
Memphis, TN 38112
(901) 866-9084
Gr: K-8 | 201 students Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #3232.
Star Academy
Charter School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3240 James Rd
Memphis, TN 38108
(901) 387-5050
Gr: K-8 | 400 students
Rank: #3333.
Cordova Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
900 N Sanga Rd
Cordova, TN 38018
(901) 416-2189
Gr: 6-8 | 680 students Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #3434.
Memphis Business Academy Hickory Hill Middle School
Charter School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
4443 S. Germantown Rd
Memphis, TN 38125
(901) 505-0551
Gr: 6-8 | 75 students
Rank: #3535.
Lowrance Elementary Middle School
(Math: 9% | Reading: 22%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
7740 Lowrance Rd
Memphis, TN 38125
(901) 416-2330
Gr: PK-8 | 787 students Minority enrollment: 99%
Show 53 more public schools in Shelby County, TN (out of 88 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public middle schools in Shelby County, TN?
The top-ranked public middle schools in Shelby County, TN include Maxine Smith Steam Academy, Riverdale Elementary School and Houston Middle School.
How many public middle schools are located in Shelby County?
91 public middle schools are located in Shelby County.
What is the racial composition of students in Shelby County?
Shelby County public middle schools minority enrollment is 84% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Tennessee public middle schools average of 40% (majority Black).
Which public middle schools in Shelby County are often viewed compared to one another?

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