Winridge Elementary vs Memphis STEM Academy
Memphis STEM Academy has a higher overall rating of 9.4/10 compared to 8.5/10. Winridge Elementary is significantly larger with 415 students, about 1.7× the size of Memphis STEM Academy (243). In math proficiency, Winridge Elementary leads at 37.0%.
Winridge Elementary
Memphis, TN
415 students
Memphis STEM Academy
Memphis, TN
243 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Winridge Elementary | Memphis STEM Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8.5 / 10 | 9.4 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 7.3 | 8.8 |
| Growth Score | 9.1 | 9.9 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Environment Score | 8.9 | 9.3 |
| State Rank | #165 of 1,786 | #13 of 1,786 |
| State Percentile | 91th | 99th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Winridge Elementary | Memphis STEM Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 37.0% | 34.5% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 22.0% | 15.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Winridge Elementary | Memphis STEM Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Pre-K – 5th | Pre-K – 5th |
| Enrollment | 415 | 243 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 13.4:1 | 13.5:1 |
| Per-Pupil Spending | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | — | — |
| Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23) | 23.4% | 19.3% |
| District | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Memphis-Shelby County Schools |
| City | Memphis | Memphis |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Memphis (38115) | Memphis (38127) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $42,931 | $37,768 |
| Median Home Value | $129,700 | $82,500 |
| Median Rent | $1,129 | $1,104 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 14.3% | 11.4% |
| Poverty Rate | 19.5% | 34.7% |
| Avg Commute | 20 min | 22 min |
The data story: Winridge Elementary vs Memphis STEM Academy
Memphis STEM Academy holds a clear edge in overall rating, scoring 9.3 out of 10 against Winridge Elementary's 8.6 — a gap that translates directly into state rank. Memphis STEM Academy sits at #22 of 1,785 Tennessee schools, placing it in the top 2 percent statewide. Winridge Elementary ranks #131 of 1,785 in Tennessee, which is still a strong top-8-percent result, but the separation between the two schools is meaningful for families who weigh statewide standing heavily.
The academic score delta is the sharpest difference between these two schools. Memphis STEM Academy scores 8.8 out of 10 in academics versus Winridge Elementary's 7.3 — a 1.5-point gap that reflects a material difference in measured proficiency. On growth, both schools perform at a high level, but Memphis STEM Academy again leads: a 9.9 growth score against Winridge Elementary's already-strong 9.1. That near-perfect growth score signals that Memphis STEM Academy students are advancing faster than their starting points would predict, regardless of incoming level.
Winridge Elementary enrolls 415 students compared to Memphis STEM Academy's 243, making Winridge roughly 70 percent larger. Despite that size difference, both schools run nearly identical student-teacher ratios — 13.4:1 at Winridge Elementary and 13.5:1 at Memphis STEM Academy — so classroom attention is comparable. The structural difference is school type: Winridge Elementary is a regular public school with neighborhood attendance boundaries, while Memphis STEM Academy is a charter school requiring active enrollment. Both serve grades PK through 05 and sit 13.8 miles apart within Memphis.
Memphis STEM Academy's charter designation shapes its program identity. The STEM focus implies a curriculum organized around science, technology, engineering, and math from the earliest grades — a structural program distinction not present at Winridge Elementary, which operates as a traditional district elementary. Families weighing program fit against convenience will find that distinction more relevant than the marginal ratio difference, since raw classroom size is essentially a wash between the two schools.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Winridge Elementary
Winridge Elementary suits families zoned into its attendance area who want a strong neighborhood public school — ranked in Tennessee's top 8 percent — without the application and commute demands of a charter. Its larger campus and traditional structure also fit families who prefer the continuity of a conventional district environment over a specialized program identity.
Memphis STEM Academy
Memphis STEM Academy is the better fit for families willing to apply and travel for a school ranked #22 in Tennessee, particularly those who want early STEM immersion starting in pre-K. Its near-perfect 9.9 growth score makes it especially compelling for parents who prioritize academic acceleration over proximity or the familiarity of a neighborhood school.