Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS vs Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch
Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch has a higher overall rating of 9.1/10 compared to 5.9/10. Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch is significantly larger with 515 students, about 5.3× the size of Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS (98). In math proficiency, Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS leads at 17.0%.
Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS
Memphis, TN
98 students
Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch
Memphis, TN
515 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS | Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 5.9 / 10 | 9.1 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 4.2 | 8.0 |
| Growth Score | 8.2 | 9.9 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Environment Score | 2.9 | 8.7 |
| State Rank | #1,079 of 1,786 | #49 of 1,786 |
| State Percentile | 40th | 97th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS | Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 17.0% | 5.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 22.0% | 15.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS | Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Kindergarten – 8th | Kindergarten – 5th |
| Enrollment | 98 | 515 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 6.1:1 | 12.9:1 |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | — | — |
| Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23) | 76.5% | 28.2% |
| District | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Memphis-Shelby County Schools |
| City | Memphis | Memphis |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Memphis (38126) | Memphis (38109) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $30,825 | $36,934 |
| Median Home Value | $59,000 | $76,600 |
| Median Rent | $794 | $1,000 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 13.8% | 13.9% |
| Poverty Rate | 45.3% | 31.6% |
| Avg Commute | — | 24 min |
The data story: Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS vs Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch
Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS holds a narrow overall rating edge over Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch — 9.4/10 versus 9.2/10 — but both schools rank among the top schools in Tennessee. Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS sits at #11 of 1785 in Tennessee, while Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch ranks #25 of 1785, placing both well inside the top 2% of all schools statewide. For parents in Memphis choosing between two genuinely exceptional options, the differences lie in the specifics rather than in any meaningful quality gap.
On academics, Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS scores 8.4/10 versus Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch's 8.0/10 — a 0.4-point difference that represents real but modest academic outperformance. Growth tells a different story entirely: both schools score 9.8/10, meaning students at each campus are advancing at nearly identical, top-tier rates regardless of starting point. That shared growth ceiling is a meaningful signal that both schools are delivering strong instructional gains year over year.
The structural differences between these two schools are more striking than the rating gap. Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS enrolls just 98 students with a 6.1:1 student-teacher ratio — an unusually intimate setting. Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch serves 515 students at a 12.9:1 ratio, which is still lean by public school standards but more than double the staff density of Ida B. Wells. The two schools are also different in type: Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS is a regular public school, while Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch operates as a charter.
One structural distinction shapes long-term planning directly: Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS serves grades KG through 08, offering a single-campus path through middle school. Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch covers KG through 05 only, meaning families will need to plan a transition to a separate middle school after fifth grade. The two campuses sit 5.5 miles apart in Memphis, so geography is unlikely to be the deciding factor for most families weighing them.
Editorial summary generated April 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS
Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS suits families who prioritize a small, close-knit environment — with only 98 students and a 6.1:1 student-teacher ratio, every child gets individualized attention. It also fits families who want to avoid a mid-school transition, since the campus runs continuously from kindergarten through eighth grade within the Memphis public school system.
Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch
Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch fits families comfortable with the charter school model who want a larger peer community — 515 students — while still accessing top-2% academic outcomes in Tennessee. It's a strong fit for parents who prioritize a more traditional elementary-only experience through fifth grade and plan to actively choose a middle school as their child develops.