Idlewild Elementary vs Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch
Idlewild Elementary and Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch are very closely rated, both scoring around 9.0 out of 10. In math proficiency, Idlewild Elementary leads at 57.0%.
Idlewild Elementary
Memphis, TN
588 students
Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch
Memphis, TN
515 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Idlewild Elementary | Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.0 / 10 | 9.1 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.7 | 8.0 |
| Growth Score | 8.8 | 9.9 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Environment Score | 8.4 | 8.7 |
| State Rank | #65 of 1,786 | #49 of 1,786 |
| State Percentile | 96th | 97th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Idlewild Elementary | Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 57.0% | 5.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 55.0% | 15.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Idlewild Elementary | Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Kindergarten – 5th | Kindergarten – 5th |
| Enrollment | 588 | 515 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 15.9:1 | 12.9:1 |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | — | — |
| Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23) | 12.1% | 28.2% |
| District | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Memphis-Shelby County Schools |
| City | Memphis | Memphis |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Memphis (38104) | Memphis (38109) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $56,452 | $36,934 |
| Median Home Value | $301,100 | $76,600 |
| Median Rent | $1,073 | $1,000 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 51.9% | 13.9% |
| Poverty Rate | 14.1% | 31.6% |
| Avg Commute | 18 min | 24 min |
The data story: Idlewild Elementary vs Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch
Idlewild Elementary and Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch sit 6.0 miles apart in Memphis and serve the same grade band — kindergarten through fifth grade — yet land at different positions in Tennessee's statewide rankings. Idlewild Elementary rates 9.1/10 against Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch's 8.8/10, a 0.3-point gap that translates to a meaningful rank difference: Idlewild Elementary places #46 of 1,785 Tennessee schools while Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch comes in at #93 of 1,785. Both schools sit well inside the state's top 10 percent, but Idlewild holds the edge in absolute standing.
The academic picture separates these schools more sharply than the headline rating suggests. Idlewild Elementary scores 9.7/10 on academics against Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch's 8.0/10 — a 1.7-point spread that reflects the difference between mastery-level and proficiency-level outcomes on state assessments. Growth tells the opposite story: Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch records a 9.8/10 growth score versus Idlewild Elementary's 9.0/10, meaning students at Freedom Prep are accelerating faster year-over-year relative to academic peers statewide. A family weighing current achievement against trajectory will find a genuine trade-off between these two numbers.
Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch enrolls 515 students against Idlewild Elementary's 588, and its student-teacher ratio of 12.9:1 offers noticeably more contact time per student than Idlewild's 15.9:1 — three additional students per teacher on average. That smaller ratio, combined with the charter school's autonomy over curriculum and schedule, is likely a factor driving Freedom Prep's outsized growth performance despite the lower absolute academic score.
On structure and type, Idlewild Elementary operates as a regular public school within the district system, while Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch is a charter school. Both serve KG–05 exclusively, so neither offers a continuity advantage into middle school. Families who value the predictability and community ties of a neighborhood district school will weigh that differently from families who prioritize the tighter staffing ratios and accelerated-growth profile of a charter environment.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Idlewild Elementary
Idlewild Elementary fits families who prioritize current, demonstrated academic achievement. Its 9.7/10 academic score and #46 statewide rank signal that students here are performing at a high level right now. It's also the better fit for families already rooted in the district system who prefer a traditional public school structure over a charter model.
Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch
Freedom Prep Elementary - Millbranch suits families whose child is below grade level or needs accelerated catch-up — its 9.8/10 growth score is the strongest signal in this comparison. The 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio means more individualized attention. Parents who want a smaller-feel school with charter-driven flexibility over curriculum and schedule will find this the more responsive environment.