Jackson Elementary vs J. P. Freeman Elementary/Middle

Jackson Elementary and J. P. Freeman Elementary/Middle sit close in Memphis's overall school ratings, but the 0.2-point gap (Jackson Elementary 9.1/10 vs. J. P. Freeman Elementary/Middle 8.9/10) understates the real differences between them. Both rank among Tennessee's elite: Jackson Elementary at #47 of 1785 in Tennessee and J. P. Freeman Elementary/Middle at #75 of 1785 — either is a strong choice, but they serve different family priorities.

The sharpest academic distinction runs in opposite directions depending on what you measure. J. P. Freeman Elementary/Middle posts a 9.7/10 academic score — 1.3 points above Jackson Elementary's 8.4. That's a meaningful proficiency gap. Jackson Elementary flips the script on growth, scoring 9.5/10 versus J. P. Freeman's 8.4. In practical terms: Freeman's students are performing at higher tested levels right now, while Jackson's students are gaining ground faster year over year relative to their starting points.

Jackson Elementary is the smaller school, with 303 students versus J. P. Freeman Elementary/Middle's 493. That smaller body translates into a tighter student-teacher ratio — 13.8:1 at Jackson versus 14.9:1 at Freeman. One fewer student per teacher may seem marginal, but at the elementary level it compounds across daily interactions. Both ratios are healthy by Tennessee standards; Jackson simply offers more per-teacher contact.

The grade-span difference is structural: Jackson Elementary serves PK–05, stopping at fifth grade, while J. P. Freeman Elementary/Middle extends through eighth grade. Families who value keeping a child in one building through middle school — avoiding a transition at age 11 — have a clear answer in Freeman. Jackson's PK–05 scope also means it accepts pre-kindergarten students, which Freeman does not.