Wells Station Elementary vs Compass Community School Berclair Campus

Wells Station Elementary holds a 9.3/10 overall rating against Compass Community School Berclair Campus's 8.8/10 — a half-point gap that reflects a meaningful difference in state standing. Wells Station Elementary ranks #21 of 1785 schools in Tennessee, placing it in the top 1.2% statewide. Compass Community School Berclair Campus ranks #94 of 1785 in Tennessee, which is still an elite position but trails Wells Station by 73 spots. Both schools sit just 2.1 miles apart in Memphis, making this a genuine neighborhood decision rather than a commute trade-off.

The academic gap is the sharpest contrast between these two schools. Wells Station Elementary scores 8.3/10 on academics versus Compass Community School Berclair Campus's 6.5/10 — a 1.8-point delta that signals a measurable difference in tested proficiency outcomes. Where academic achievement diverges, growth converges almost entirely: Wells Station Elementary posts a 9.8/10 growth score while Compass Community School Berclair Campus posts 9.9/10, a statistical tie. Both schools are moving students forward at exceptional rates regardless of where they start, which means Compass's lower academic score reflects incoming skill levels more than instructional effectiveness.

Wells Station Elementary enrolls 633 students compared to Compass Community School Berclair Campus's 229 — nearly three times the population. Compass's smaller enrollment translates directly into a tighter student-teacher ratio of 10.9:1 versus Wells Station's 12.7:1, meaning Compass students average roughly two fewer peers per teacher. For families who prioritize individualized attention and a close-knit school environment, that 1.8-student ratio difference is a real structural advantage at the charter school.

The schools differ in type, governance, and grade span. Wells Station Elementary is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Compass Community School Berclair Campus is a charter school with a broader span of kindergarten through eighth grade, which means families who enroll in kindergarten can potentially stay through middle school without a transition. That continuity reduces the disruption of a school change at the end of fifth grade and may appeal to parents planning multiple years ahead.