For the 2026 school year, there are 271 public schools serving 153,514 students in Shelby County, TN (there are 116 private schools, serving 24,702 private students). 86% of all K-12 students in Shelby County, TN are educated in public schools (compared to the TN state average of 90%).
The top-ranked public schools in Shelby County, TN are Crosswind Elementary School, Bailey Station Elementary School and Farmington Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Shelby County, TN public schools have an average math proficiency score of 25% (versus the Tennessee public school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 31% (versus the 37% statewide average). Schools in Shelby County have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Tennessee public schools.
Minority enrollment is 83% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Tennessee public school average of 43% (majority Black).
Best Public Schools in Shelby County (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Crosswind Elementary School
(Math: 89% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
831 West Shelton Rd
Collierville, TN 38017
(901) 853-3330
Collierville, TN 38017
(901) 853-3330
Gr: K-5 | 680 students Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #22.
Bailey Station Elementary School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
3435 Bailey Station Rd
Collierville, TN 38017
(901) 853-6380
Collierville, TN 38017
(901) 853-6380
Gr: PK-5 | 850 students Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #33.
Farmington Elementary School
(Math: 89% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2085 Cordes Rd
Germantown, TN 38138
(901) 756-2320
Germantown, TN 38138
(901) 756-2320
Gr: PK-5 | 646 students Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #44.
Dogwood Elementary School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
8945 Dogwood Rd
Germantown, TN 38139
(901) 756-2310
Germantown, TN 38139
(901) 756-2310
Gr: PK-5 | 663 students Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #55.
Tara Oaks Elementary School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
600 Harpers Ferry Rd
Collierville, TN 38017
(901) 853-3337
Collierville, TN 38017
(901) 853-3337
Gr: PK-5 | 640 students Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #66.
Forest Hill Elementary School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
3368 S. Forest Hill Irene Rd
Germantown, TN 38138
(901) 730-8520
Germantown, TN 38138
(901) 730-8520
Gr: PK-5 | 698 students Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #77.
Maxine Smith Steam Academy
(Math: 72% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
750 E Parkway S
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 416-4536
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 416-4536
Gr: 6-8 | 439 students Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #88.
Donelson Elementary School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
12140 Donelson Farms Pkwy
Arlington, TN 38002
(901) 389-6973
Arlington, TN 38002
(901) 389-6973
Gr: PK-5 | 843 students Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #99.
Arlington Elementary School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
11825 Douglas
Arlington, TN 38002
(901) 867-6000
Arlington, TN 38002
(901) 867-6000
Gr: PK-5 | 926 students Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #1010.
Sycamore Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1155 Sycamore Rd
Collierville, TN 38017
(901) 854-8202
Collierville, TN 38017
(901) 854-8202
Gr: PK-5 | 580 students Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #1111.
Lakeland Elementary School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
10050 Oak Seed Ln
Arlington, TN 38002
(901) 867-7071
Arlington, TN 38002
(901) 867-7071
Gr: PK-4 | 1,029 student Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #1212.
Schilling Farms Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
935 S. Colbert St
Collierville, TN 38017
(901) 853-3330
Collierville, TN 38017
(901) 853-3330
Gr: PK-5 | 654 students Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #1313.
Collierville Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
590 Peterson Lake Rd
Collierville, TN 38017
(901) 853-3300
Collierville, TN 38017
(901) 853-3300
Gr: PK-5 | 750 students Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #1414.
Richland Elementary School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
5440 Rich Rd
Memphis, TN 38120
(901) 416-2148
Memphis, TN 38120
(901) 416-2148
Gr: PK-5 | 907 students Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #1515.
Riverdale Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
7391 Neshoba Rd
Germantown, TN 38138
(901) 756-2300
Germantown, TN 38138
(901) 756-2300
Gr: PK-8 | 1,184 student Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #16 - 1716. - 17.
Houston Middle School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
9400 Wolf River Blvd
Germantown, TN 38139
(901) 756-2366
Germantown, TN 38139
(901) 756-2366
Gr: 6-8 | 972 students Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #16 - 1716. - 17.
West Collierville Middle School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
935 S Colbert St
Collierville, TN 38017
(901) 854-2345
Collierville, TN 38017
(901) 854-2345
Gr: 6-8 | 1,348 student Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #18 - 1918. - 19.
Bon Lin Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3940 Germantown Rd
Memphis, TN 38134
(901) 937-2344
Memphis, TN 38134
(901) 937-2344
Gr: PK-5 | 708 students Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #18 - 1918. - 19.
Idlewild Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1950 Linden Ave
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 416-4566
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 416-4566
Gr: K-5 | 593 students Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #2020.
Arlington Middle School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
5470 Lamb Rd
Arlington, TN 38002
(901) 867-6015
Arlington, TN 38002
(901) 867-6015
Gr: 6-8 | 960 students Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #2121.
Lakeland Preparatory School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
5020 Lions Crest Dr
Arlington, TN 38002
(901) 867-5412
Arlington, TN 38002
(901) 867-5412
Gr: 5-11 | 1,509 student Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #2222.
Bartlett Elementary School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3932 Billy Maher Rd
Memphis, TN 38135
(901) 373-2610
Memphis, TN 38135
(901) 373-2610
Gr: PK-5 | 680 students Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #2323.
J. P. Freeman Elementary Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5250 Tulane Rd
Memphis, TN 38109
(901) 416-3156
Memphis, TN 38109
(901) 416-3156
Gr: K-8 | 432 students
Rank: #2424.
White Station Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4840 Chickasaw Rd
Memphis, TN 38117
(901) 416-8900
Memphis, TN 38117
(901) 416-8900
Gr: PK-5 | 786 students Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #2525.
Collierville Middle School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
580 Quinn Rd
Collierville, TN 38017
(901) 853-3320
Collierville, TN 38017
(901) 853-3320
Gr: 6-8 | 815 students Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #2626.
White Station Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5465 Mason Rd
Memphis, TN 38120
(901) 416-2184
Memphis, TN 38120
(901) 416-2184
Gr: 6-8 | 1,127 student Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #2727.
Ellendale Elementary School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
6950 Dawn Hill
Memphis, TN 38135
(901) 373-2636
Memphis, TN 38135
(901) 373-2636
Gr: K-5 | 502 students Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #2828.
Shrine School
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4259 Forest View Dr
Memphis, TN 38118
(901) 416-2400
Memphis, TN 38118
(901) 416-2400
Gr: PK-12 | 126 students Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #2929.
Collierville High School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
11605 E. Shelby Dr
Collierville, TN 38017
(901) 853-3310
Collierville, TN 38017
(901) 853-3310
Gr: 9-12 | 2,946 students Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #3030.
Rivercrest Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4825 Rivercrest
Memphis, TN 38135
(901) 373-1373
Memphis, TN 38135
(901) 373-1373
Gr: PK-5 | 674 students Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #3131.
Altruria Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
6641 Deermont Dr
Memphis, TN 38134
(901) 373-2600
Memphis, TN 38134
(901) 373-2600
Gr: PK-5 | 730 students Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #3232.
Oak Elementary School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3573 Oak Rd
Memphis, TN 38134
(901) 373-2646
Memphis, TN 38134
(901) 373-2646
Gr: PK-5 | 711 students Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #3333.
Grahamwood Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3950 Summer Ave
Memphis, TN 38122
(901) 416-5952
Memphis, TN 38122
(901) 416-5952
Gr: PK-5 | 850 students Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #3434.
White Station High School
Magnet School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
514 S Perkins Rd
Memphis, TN 38117
(901) 416-8880
Memphis, TN 38117
(901) 416-8880
Gr: 9-12 | 2,046 students Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #3535.
Arlington High School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
5475 Airline Rd
Arlington, TN 38002
(901) 867-1541
Arlington, TN 38002
(901) 867-1541
Gr: 9-12 | 1,674 student Minority enrollment: 33%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public schools in Shelby County, TN?
The top-ranked public schools in Shelby County, TN include Crosswind Elementary School, Bailey Station Elementary School and Farmington Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in Shelby County?
285 public schools are located in Shelby County.
What percentage of students in Shelby County go to public school?
86% of all K-12 students in Shelby County are educated in public schools (compared to the TN state average of 90%).
What is the racial composition of students in Shelby County?
Shelby County public schools minority enrollment is 83% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Tennessee public schools average of 43% (majority Black).
Which public schools in Shelby County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Shelby County include: Raleigh-bartlett Meadows Elementary School vs. Shelby Oaks Elementary School, Cherokee Elementary School vs. Alcy Elementary School, West Collierville Middle School vs. Collierville Middle School
Recent Articles
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.
