Where are the good schools in Memphis? (Germantown, Collierville: real estate, rentals)

[ramhazad]

Hello eveyone:

I am planning to move to Memphis Tennessee, I have 2 girls one in Middle school and on in elementary , I would like to know where are the good schools? I have read nice things about the white stations schools what neighborhood would that be? my husband work next to the Memphis Airport? anybody can give me an advice about good schools in this area? I am terrified about the crime rate? I can afford renting up to 1400$ a month.

[jm24]

I would suggest that you post your question on the Memphis board. You'll find plenty of discussion about the schools and neighborhoods if you do a search. White Station school would be in what is considered east Memphis. Don't consider living and sending your children to school in the airport area. It's easy enough to commute in this town; your husband can easily get to work near the airport if you live and send children to school in another part of town. Good luck.

[DubbleT]

For elementary - Richland, Grahamwood (optional program only), or Snowden (optional program only)
Middle school - White Station Middle or Snowden (optional program)
Maybe a few other schools, but these are the ones I've had experience with. JP Freeman Optional School students do some exceptional things, but I don't know much about the area of town it's in, so don't know if that would be something you might want to consider.

If you don't think your kids qualfy for the optional programs then I would suggest looking to the burbs.
If you are interested in the optional programs then it doesn't matter where you live, as long as you are within the city limits. Kids attend these schools from all over the city. Contrary to what you might hear, it is not that difficult to get into an optional school, as long as your kids have the test scores to qualify.
Richland and Campus Schools are two schools that are not optional and are still good neighborhood schools, maybe worth living in district for, if for some reason you don't want to go out to the burbs. Boundary Maps

[kingchef]

Originally Posted by ramhazad

Hello eveyone:

I am planning to move to Memphis Tennessee, I have 2 girls one in Middle school and on in elementary , I would like to know where are the good schools? I have read nice things about the white stations schools what neighborhood would that be? my husband work next to the Memphis Airport? anybody can give me an advice about good schools in this area? I am terrified about the crime rate? I can afford renting up to 1400$ a month.

if renting for that amount, i would try an older home on highland, going north of poplar. that would get you somewhere in the white station district---at least i think it would. actually, i don't believe it is an absolute requirement that you live in the school district in order for the child to attend the school. someone who has children would know better than i.

try looking for a rental in central gardens or in the annesdale district. downtown might be good for you, too. white station, park, cherry, branford, colonial park are all decent areas that, perhaps, have some mid-size house rentals. this particular area, along w/ the u of memphis area, would be convenient to the 240 loop south to airport city sector. hope this info helps you. there are several in this forum who have valuable knowledge re: realty and its availability.

[Pearlbob]

Keep in mind that White Station (at least the high school) is NOT a good school. Only the optional program is good. If you move into that area in the hopes that your childen will move on to a great High School, they'd have to be able to get into the Optional program. I'm not certain that the criteria is, or how hard it is.

You do not want to move anywhere near the airport, very dangerous. Memphis is a small city, you can live anywhere in the city/suburbs and commute to the airport is a very short amount of time.

[3southerners]

The Memphis City Schools have a 66% graduation rate. What that means is for each Freshman class starting out, only 66% will actually graduate. The average ACT score for a Memphis City high school student is 17. The only (and I repeat--ONLY) place I would send my child to school or live is either Collierville or Germantown. Otherwise you could also live in Olive Branch Mississippi. Good luck

[DubbleT]

White Station High Optional
-consistantly leads Shelby County in Nat'l Merit Scholarship semifinalist, including the Shelby County Schools
-98% optional students went on to college in 2008, including many Ivy League schools
-18 million in scholarships awarded in 2008

- honors courses required, AP classes encouraged, 82% earned college credit in 2008
- requires student at 80th percentile on standardized test (TCAP, equivalent ACT or SAT)
- no more than one C per semester, no D' or F's allowed

Ridgeway Optional program is similar, requiring only a 70th percentile to qualify instead of 80th, offers IB program, and only boasts of "over 90%" of students attending post secondary schools with scholarships totaling 12 million on average.

On the high school level these two programs hold their own with anything county schools can offer, and they give some of the private schools a run for their money too.

(Generally most students enter the optional programs at elementery level, maybe a few here and there at the upper grades. Once a student is "in", it is for the most part a matter of returning a form to the school office once a year to keep them in. Not hard at all, once the initial enrollment is accepted.)

[jnr4411]

Seriously, just go to G'Twn, Collierville (I385 from there to Airport area isn't bad) or Olive Branch. Just don't do Memphis.

[Tigertate]

Originally Posted by Pearlbob

Keep in mind that White Station (at least the high school) is NOT a good school. Only the optional program is good. If you move into that area in the hopes that your childen will move on to a great High School, they'd have to be able to get into the Optional program. I'm not certain that the criteria is, or how hard it is.

You do not want to move anywhere near the airport, very dangerous. Memphis is a small city, you can live anywhere in the city/suburbs and commute to the airport is a very short amount of time.

I disagree, White Station is one of the best High Schools in the state. If you live in the area you do not have to be in the otional program. You go to WS because it is your district school. The area is very stable and has very good real estate value.

[Pearlbob]

Correct, if you live in it's district, your kids will go there. But you still have to quality for the optional program. From what I understand, the Optional program is great, but the rest of the high school was on the state's failing list a couple years back.

But please give stats if this is incorrect.

Originally Posted by Tigertate

I disagree, White Station is one of the best High Schools in the state. If you live in the area you do not have to be in the otional program. You go to WS because it is your district school. The area is very stable and has very good real estate value.