Newberry Elementary vs Memphis STEM Academy

Newberry Elementary and Memphis STEM Academy are both top-tier elementary schools in Memphis, Tennessee, but Memphis STEM Academy holds a clear statewide edge: ranked #7 of 1,785 Tennessee schools versus Newberry Elementary's #24 of 1,785. That 17-position gap reflects Memphis STEM Academy's 9.5/10 overall rating against Newberry Elementary's 9.2/10 — a 0.3-point difference that, in a state with nearly 1,800 schools, separates the exceptional from the near-elite. Both schools sit well above typical Memphis-area performance, but families prioritizing the absolute highest-ranked option have a clear answer.

On academics, the two schools are identical: Newberry Elementary and Memphis STEM Academy each score 8.8/10 in academic proficiency. The separation appears in growth, where Memphis STEM Academy posts a 9.9/10 growth score against Newberry Elementary's already-strong 9.7/10. That two-tenths difference signals that Memphis STEM Academy is pulling students forward at a marginally faster rate year over year — a meaningful distinction for families who weight trajectory over baseline proficiency.

Newberry Elementary enrolls 378 students compared to Memphis STEM Academy's 243, making the academy roughly 36% smaller. That smaller enrollment translates directly into class size: Memphis STEM Academy's student-teacher ratio is 13.5:1 versus Newberry Elementary's 15.1:1 — 1.6 fewer students per teacher on average. For parents who prioritize individual attention, Memphis STEM Academy's ratio gives it a structural advantage. Newberry Elementary is a regular public school serving neighborhood families, while Memphis STEM Academy operates as a charter, meaning enrollment typically involves an application or lottery process rather than guaranteed assignment by address.

Both schools serve grades PK–05 and sit 13.0 miles apart within Memphis, so geography is a real factor for daily commute. The STEM designation at Memphis STEM Academy signals a focused instructional approach, which may or may not align with what a given family values at the elementary level. Newberry Elementary, as a traditional public school, offers the predictability of a standard curriculum within the Memphis-Shelby County Schools system.