Memphis STEM Academy vs Compass Community School Berclair Campus

Memphis STEM Academy and Compass Community School Berclair Campus are both high-performing Memphis elementary schools, but Memphis STEM Academy holds a clear edge at the top of Tennessee's rankings — sitting at #7 of 1785 statewide versus Compass Community School Berclair Campus at #59 of 1785. The overall rating gap is 0.6 points, with Memphis STEM Academy scoring 9.5/10 against Berclair's 8.9/10. Both schools clear the bar for exceptional performance, but the statewide rank separation of 52 positions is meaningful context for families prioritizing elite academic standing.

The sharpest contrast between the two schools is academic proficiency. Memphis STEM Academy scores 8.8/10 on academics versus Compass Community School Berclair Campus at 6.5/10 — a 2.3-point gap that reflects a real difference in tested achievement levels. Growth tells a different story: both schools score a perfect 9.9/10 on student growth, meaning each school is advancing students at an equally exceptional pace regardless of where they start. For families with students who need to close gaps quickly, Berclair's growth trajectory is every bit as strong as STEM Academy's.

Memphis STEM Academy enrolls 243 students to Berclair's 229, making both schools comparably sized small communities. The more notable structural difference is the student-teacher ratio: Compass Community School Berclair Campus operates at 10.9:1 versus Memphis STEM Academy's 13.5:1, meaning Berclair students receive more individualized teacher attention on average. Neither school is large, but Berclair's lower ratio is a concrete advantage for families who prioritize classroom intimacy and direct adult contact per child.

The grade span distinction matters for long-term planning. Memphis STEM Academy serves PreK through 5th grade, making it a true early-elementary anchor. Compass Community School Berclair Campus runs Kindergarten through 8th grade, offering continuity through middle school and eliminating a school transition entirely — a structural advantage for families who value keeping a child in one building through early adolescence. Memphis STEM Academy does not offer PreK's equivalent continuation into middle grades, but its PreK entry point is a year earlier than Berclair's Kindergarten start.