Jackson Elementary vs Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary

Jackson Elementary and Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary are both high-performing Memphis elementary schools, but Balmoral/Ridgeway holds a clear edge in overall standing. Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary scores 9.4 out of 10 versus Jackson Elementary's 9.1, and that gap widens when you look at state rank: Balmoral/Ridgeway sits at #12 of 1,785 Tennessee schools while Jackson ranks #32 — still elite, but 20 positions back among nearly 1,800 schools statewide.

The academic score separates them most sharply. Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary posts an academic score of 9.2/10 against Jackson Elementary's 8.4/10 — an 0.8-point delta that reflects meaningfully stronger proficiency outcomes on state assessments. Jackson flips the script on growth, however, earning a 9.5/10 growth score versus Balmoral/Ridgeway's 9.3/10. Jackson is adding more measurable learning year over year, which matters especially for students who arrive behind grade level and need accelerating progress.

Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary's smaller enrollment — 271 students compared to Jackson Elementary's 303 — pairs with a tighter student-teacher ratio of 12.3:1 versus Jackson's 13.8:1. That means each teacher at Balmoral/Ridgeway is responsible for roughly 1.5 fewer students, a structural difference that can translate to more instructional attention per child. Both schools are comparably sized for Memphis elementaries, but Balmoral/Ridgeway runs leaner on the classroom side.

One practical distinction for families: Jackson Elementary serves grades PK through 5, giving it a pre-kindergarten entry point that Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary does not offer. Balmoral/Ridgeway begins at kindergarten. The two schools sit 8.1 miles apart in Memphis, so geography will be a deciding factor for some families regardless of the numbers — but for those within reach of both, the choice comes down to current achievement level versus growth trajectory.