Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary vs Power Center Academy Elementary School

Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary holds a 1.1-point overall rating advantage over Power Center Academy Elementary School — 9.3/10 versus 8.2/10 — and that gap is reinforced by their respective state rankings. Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary sits at #20 of 1,785 Tennessee elementary schools, placing it in the top 2% statewide. Power Center Academy Elementary School ranks #230 of 1,785, a strong result in its own right but a full 210 positions behind its neighbor just 2.1 miles away. Both schools serve KG–05 in Memphis, so families in the area are making a genuine side-by-side choice.

The academic score gap is the sharpest numerical divide between the two schools. Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary scores 9.2/10 on academics versus Power Center Academy Elementary School's 7.0/10 — a 2.2-point difference that reflects measured proficiency outcomes. The growth picture flips that narrative. Power Center Academy Elementary School posts a 9.8/10 growth score against Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary's 9.3/10, meaning students at the charter school are advancing at a slightly faster rate relative to where they started. Families prioritizing current absolute proficiency will favor Balmoral/Ridgeway; families who weight trajectory and year-over-year gains will find Power Center Academy's growth score compelling.

The two schools differ meaningfully in scale and classroom density. Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary enrolls 271 students against Power Center Academy Elementary School's 712 — more than 2.6 times the enrollment. That size difference carries into the classroom: Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary's student-teacher ratio of 12.3:1 provides more individual access than Power Center Academy Elementary School's 14.8:1. For families who see smaller classes as a direct lever on teacher attention and personalized instruction, Balmoral/Ridgeway's numbers are the stronger case.

Structurally, the two schools operate under different models. Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary is a regular public school, while Power Center Academy Elementary School is a charter school — both serving kindergarten through fifth grade. Charter status at Power Center Academy typically involves an application or lottery process and may bring a distinct instructional philosophy or extended programming model. Parents considering the charter should verify enrollment procedures and any specific academic commitments tied to the school's charter agreement, as those conditions shape the experience beyond what aggregate scores capture.