Memphis STEM Academy vs Compass Community School Frayser Campus
Memphis STEM Academy has a higher overall rating of 9.3/10 compared to 8.0/10. In math proficiency, Memphis STEM Academy leads at 34.5%.
Attendance data is under correction. A public school's existing Resources & Environment score and overall rating shown here may still reflect an unverified attendance input.
Memphis STEM Academy
Memphis, TN
243 students
Compass Community School Frayser Campus
Memphis, TN
204 students
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| Metric | Memphis STEM Academy | Compass Community School Frayser Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.3 / 10 | 8.0 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 8.3 | 5.7 |
| Growth Score | 9.9 | 10.0 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | — | — |
| Environment Score | 9.3 | 6.5 |
| State Rank | #28 of 1,790 | #308 of 1,790 |
| State Percentile | 99th | 83th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Memphis STEM Academy | Compass Community School Frayser Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 34.5% | 7.5% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 15.0% | 7.5% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
Neighborhood
| Metric | Memphis (38127) | Memphis (38127) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $37,768 | $37,768 |
| Median Home Value | $82,500 | $82,500 |
| Median Rent | $1,104 | $1,104 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 11.4% | 11.4% |
| Poverty Rate | 34.7% | 34.7% |
| Avg Commute | 22 min | 22 min |
The data story: Memphis STEM Academy vs Compass Community School Frayser Campus
Memphis STEM Academy and Compass Community School Frayser Campus sit 1.8 miles apart in Memphis, Tennessee, yet occupy very different positions in the state rankings. Memphis STEM Academy holds the #7 spot out of 1,785 Tennessee schools while Compass Community School Frayser Campus ranks #74 — a meaningful gap at the top of the distribution, though both schools clear the state's top 5% threshold. The overall rating difference is 0.7 points, with Memphis STEM Academy scoring 9.5/10 against Compass Community's 8.8/10, reflecting a real academic performance delta rather than a marginal rounding difference.
The sharpest contrast between the two schools is in academic proficiency. Memphis STEM Academy scores 8.8/10 on academic achievement while Compass Community School Frayser Campus scores 6.2/10 — a 2.6-point gap that signals meaningfully higher current test performance at STEM Academy. That said, growth tells a different story entirely: both schools score a perfect 9.9/10 on student growth, meaning children at either campus are advancing at an exceptional rate relative to peers with similar starting points. Families prioritizing current proficiency levels will favor Memphis STEM Academy; those weighing trajectory and gains will find both schools equally strong.
Memphis STEM Academy enrolls 243 students across PK–05 with a 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio, while Compass Community School Frayser Campus serves 204 students at a 12.0:1 ratio. The slightly smaller ratio at Compass Community translates to roughly one fewer student per classroom on average, which can matter for families who prioritize individualized attention. Both campuses are relatively small by Memphis standards, keeping the overall environment accessible for elementary-age children.
The grade range distinction is the most practical structural difference: Memphis STEM Academy serves prekindergarten through fifth grade, while Compass Community School Frayser Campus extends through eighth grade. A family enrolling a kindergartner at Compass Community can keep that child at the same campus through middle school, avoiding a transition during the critical 6th–8th grade years. Memphis STEM Academy families will need to identify a separate middle school placement after fifth grade.
Editorial summary generated April 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Memphis STEM Academy
Memphis STEM Academy fits families whose top priority is current academic achievement — the 8.8/10 academic score and #7 state ranking signal strong measured proficiency. It also works well for parents of prekindergartners who want early entry into a high-performing program, since it is the only one of the two that accepts PK students.
Compass Community School Frayser Campus
Compass Community School Frayser Campus suits families who want a single campus covering kindergarten through eighth grade, eliminating a mid-childhood school transition. The 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio and identical 9.9/10 growth score mean students gain ground just as fast as at Memphis STEM Academy, in a slightly smaller classroom setting.