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Shelby County

Tennessee · Public K-12

Of the public K-12 schools operating across Tennessee, 287 sit inside Shelby County, collectively enrolling roughly 154,209 students (167 elementary, 50 middle, and 61 high).

7-year change in Shelby County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
149,984
-3,161 (-2%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
256
-8 (-3%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
17%
was 19%
% Hispanic
17%
was 12%
% Black
60%
was 64%
% Asian
3%
was 3%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
919,173
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
287
10 districts
Enrollment
154,209
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$63,767
Above Tennessee avg
Free/reduced lunch
-0.3%
Above Tennessee avg
Elementary
167
80,022 students
Middle
50
27,346 students
High
61
45,105 students
Combined / other
9
1,736 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Memphis-Shelby County Schools
111,979 students · 10 districts in Shelby County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Shelby County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
34%
Hispanic
9%
Black
52%
Asian
3%
Two or more
6%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
16%
Hispanic
17%
Black
61%
Asian
2%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
34.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
13.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
7.2%
civilian labor
Median age
36
25.4% under 18

Test scores in Shelby County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 236 schools ranked. Tennessee state average: 40.9%.

See all 236 schools in Shelby County ranked by score →

All schools (287)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Power Center Academy Middle - SoutheastMemphisMiddle06-08323·
Jackson ElementaryMemphisElementaryPK-05322·
Memphis Business Academy Elementary SchoolMemphisElementaryPK-05322·
Beacon College PreparatoryMemphisElementaryKG-05321·
Cherokee ElementaryMemphisElementaryPK-05321·
Northaven ElementaryMemphisElementaryPK-08320·
Vollentine ElementaryMemphisElementaryPK-05319·
Delano ElementaryMemphisElementaryPK-05315·
Larose ElementaryMemphisElementaryPK-05313·
Peabody ElementaryMemphisElementaryPK-05310·
Memphis Virtual SchoolMemphisCombined04-12309·
Hawkins Mill ElementaryMemphisElementaryPK-05308·
Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory Charter SchoolMemphisMiddle05-08306·
Middle College HighMemphisHigh09-12304·
Oakhaven MiddleMemphisMiddle06-08303·
Southern Avenue Charter School Of Academic Excellence CreatiMemphisElementaryKG-05302·
KIPP Memphis Collegiate MiddleMemphisMiddle06-08301·
Lucy ElementaryMillingtonElementaryPK-05301·
Sharpe ElementaryMemphisElementaryPK-05301·
Barret's Chapel Elementary/MiddleArlingtonElementaryPK-08300·
Westside Middle SchoolMemphisMiddle06-08299·
Bethel Grove ElementaryMemphisElementaryPK-05290·
Georgian Hills ElementaryMemphisElementaryPK-05287·
Whitney ElementaryMemphisElementaryPK-05285·
Promise AcademyMemphisElementaryPK-05282·
Westside MiddleMemphisMiddle06-08281·
Caldwell-GuthrieMemphisElementaryPK-08280·
University High SchoolMemphisHigh09-12280·
Memphis STEM AcademyMemphisElementaryPK-05276·
Balmoral/Ridgeway ElementaryMemphisElementaryKG-05275·
Westside ElementaryMemphisElementaryPK-05269·
University MiddleMemphisMiddle06-08268·
University Middle SchoolMemphisMiddle06-08264·
Double Tree ElementaryMemphisElementaryPK-05259·
Gardenview ElementaryMemphisElementaryPK-05256·
Georgian Hills MiddleMemphisMiddle06-08249·
Woodstock Middle SchoolMillingtonMiddle06-08248·
Memphis Scholars Caldwell-GuthrieMemphisElementaryPK-05245·
Compass Community School Hickory Hill CampusMemphisElementaryKG-08241·
Compass Community School Berclair CampusMemphisElementaryKG-08231·
Springdale ElementaryMemphisElementaryPK-05231·
Memphis College PreparatoryMemphisElementaryKG-05227·
Rozelle ElementaryMemphisElementaryPK-05222·
Dunbar ElementaryMemphisElementaryPK-05206·
Lester PrepMemphisMiddle06-08204·
Compass Community School Orange Mound CampusMemphisElementaryKG-08203·
Compass Community School Binghampton CampusMemphisElementaryKG-08201·
Compass Community School Frayser CampusMemphisElementaryKG-08200·
Circles Of Success Learning AcademyMemphisElementaryKG-05195·
Humes Preparatory Academy Middle SchoolMemphisMiddle06-08192·
Memphis Business Academy Hickory Hill Elementary SchoolMemphisElementaryPK-05183·
City University School Of Liberal ArtsMemphisHigh09-12179·
University High SchoolMemphisHigh09-12179·
Ridgeway Early Learning CenterMemphisElementaryPK-PK178·
Avon SchoolMemphisCombinedKG-12174·
Invictus Academy at AirwaysMemphisHigh08-12173·
Medical District High SchoolMemphisHigh09-12146·
Veritas College PreparatoryMemphisMiddle06-08137·
Shrine SchoolMemphisCombinedPK-12126·
Memphis Scholars Florida KansasMemphisElementaryPK-05121·
Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MSMemphisElementaryKG-0899·
Hollis F. Price Middle CollegeMemphisHigh09-1296·
City University School Girls PreparatoryMemphisMiddle06-0894·
Collierville Virtual AcademyColliervilleCombined03-1290·
Cornerstone Prep SchoolMemphisElementaryKG-0285·
Germantown Online Academy of LearningGermantownCombinedKG-1284·
Arrow Academy of ExcellenceMemphisElementaryKG-0576·
Memphis Business Academy Hickory Hill Middle SchoolMemphisMiddle06-0875·
Memphis Scholars Raleigh-EgyptMemphisMiddle06-0863·
City University School of IndependenceMemphisHigh09-1213·
Bluebird Learning CenterMemphisElementaryPK-PK0·
Campus Kids CornerMemphisElementaryPK-PK0·
Early Childhood EducationMemphisElementaryPK-PK0·
Ernestine Rivers Child Care CenterMemphisElementaryPK-PK0·
Hooks Dimmick Child Care CenterMemphisElementaryPK-PK0·
Horn Lake Road Learning CenterMemphisElementaryPK-PK0·
Jessie Mahan Day Care CenterMemphiElementaryPK-PK0·
Kids School Early Childhood Development CenterMemphisElementaryPK-PK0·
Kingsbury Career Technology CenterMemphisHigh09-120·
Memphis Learning AcademyMemphisElementaryPK-PK0·
Nat Burning Orange Mound Day Nursery Learning Inc.MemphisElementaryPK-PK0·
Primary PrepatoryMemphisElementaryPK-PK0·
Sheffield Career Technology CenterMemphisHigh09-120·
Southwest Career Technology CenterMemphisHigh09-120·
Trezevant Career and Technology CenterMemphisHigh09-120·
Journey Hanley SchoolMemphisCombinedM-M··
KIPP Memphis Academy MiddleMemphisCombinedM-M··

Cities in Shelby County

Memphis230 schoolsBartlett11 schoolsGermantown11 schoolsCollierville10 schoolsCordova10 schoolsArlington6 schoolsMillington6 schoolsLakeland2 schoolsMemphi1 school

About Shelby County

Shelby County is a sizable Tennessee county of about 919,173 residents, home to 287 public schools and roughly 154,209 students.

In context, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $63,767, roughly 34% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 14%.

On the school-mix side, Shelby County is made up of 167 elementary schools (80,022 students), 50 middle schools (27,346), 61 high schools (45,105), and 9 combined or other schools.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 111,979 students across Shelby County.

Over the past 7-year window. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment held roughly steady: 153,145 students in SY 2017-18 versus 149,984 in SY 2024-25. The school count fell from 264 to 256 across the same 7-year window. Demographically, the Hispanic share of enrollment rose from 12% to 17%.

On allk12, the community for Shelby County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Shelby County?
There are 287 public K-12 schools in Shelby County, Tennessee, with a combined enrollment of about 154,209.
How many high schools are in Shelby County?
Shelby County, Tennessee has 61 public high schools, serving approximately 45,105 students.
How many middle schools are in Shelby County?
Shelby County, Tennessee has 50 public middle schools, serving approximately 27,346 students.
How many elementary schools are in Shelby County?
Shelby County, Tennessee has 167 public elementary schools, serving approximately 80,022 students.
What is the largest school district in Shelby County?
Memphis-Shelby County Schools is the largest school district in Shelby County, serving approximately 111,979 students. The county contains 10 school districts overall.
How many people live in Shelby County?
Shelby County has roughly 919,173 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Shelby County?
Median household income in Shelby County is $63,767, above the Tennessee average of $61,364. About 13.6% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Shelby County?
Approximately 34.3% of adults 25 and older in Shelby County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Shelby County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly -0.3% of students in Shelby County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Tennessee county average of -0.3%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Shelby County schools?
Across Shelby County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 22.1 to 1.

Shelby County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data