- Enrollment
- 2,251
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Memphis, TN
Memphis Merit Academy
Federal NCES profile for Memphis Merit Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 470014802588Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 68
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Memphis Merit Academy earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 99% of Tennessee schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Tennessee schools.
- #15 of 33
- elementary schools in Memphis · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 60.6:1
- large classes for Tennessee
- 424
- students enrolled
Memphis Merit Academy has class sizes larger than 99% of Tennessee schools. Computed live against every Tennessee school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Memphis Merit Academy ranks #15 of 33 elementary schools in Memphis, TN.
School address
District: Memphis-Shelby County Schools · Tennessee
NCES ID 470014802588 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+64 students YoY
Memphis Merit Academy grew from 291 students in 2022-23 to 355 in 2023-24 (+22.0%).
Teacher FTE added 7.0 → 20.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+64 students YoY 470014802588 · Memphis, TN Elementary · SMALL · CHARTER
424 enr · 60.6:1 · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Cordova High School (2,251 students)
Memphis Merit Academy grew from 291 students in 2022-23 to 355 in 2023-24 (+22.0%). Teacher FTE added 7.0 → 20.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Tennessee schools → · Find another →
Memphis Merit Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Cordova High S
Cordova High School
2,251 students
- White Station
White Station High
2,046 students
- Germantown Hig
Germantown High
1,719 students
- Southwind High
Southwind High
1,675 students
- Whitehaven Hig
Whitehaven High
1,509 students
- This school 424
Memphis Merit Academy
424 students
What this shows Memphis Merit Academy reports 424 students on the CCD universe file.
How Memphis Merit Academy compares
Memphis Merit Academy is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Tennessee and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Tennessee | Tennessee avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 60.6:1 | ▲ 296% | 15.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 424 | top 56% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
60.6:1
Leaner classes than 0% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
424
Bigger than 51% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
60.6:1
students per teacher
- 296% above state mean
Top 99% in Tennessee - lower ratio than 1% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
12.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$13,695
per pupil, district-wide
- above Tennessee avg of $11,532
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 95.5%
Hispanic or Latino 3.8%
Two or More 0.7%
Largest group: African American at 95.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 8.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 8.6, Memphis Merit Academy is less mixed than the Tennessee school average of 38.3.
Programs
District finance for Memphis-Shelby County Schools reports $13,695 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Memphis Merit Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cordova High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| White Station High | Larger | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Germantown High | Larger | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Southwind High | Larger | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Whitehaven High | Larger | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Memphis Merit Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,046
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,719
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,675
- Students per teacher
- 26.6:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,509
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Similar elementary schools in Memphis
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Power Center Academy Elementary School
Standard public school
703 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
Idlewild Elementary
Standard public school
593 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Brownsville Road Elementary
Standard public school
550 students 19.6:1 students per teacher
Believe Memphis Academy Charter School
Standard public school
467 students 27.5:1 students per teacher
Leadership Preparatory Charter School
Standard public school
462 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
J. P. Freeman Elementary/Middle
Standard public school
432 students 12.7:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~424 students)
Frequently asked questions about Memphis Merit Academy
How many students attend Memphis Merit Academy?
Memphis Merit Academy has 424 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Memphis, TN. CCD year-over-year: 291 (2022-23) → 355 (2023-24), up 64.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Memphis Merit Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Memphis Merit Academy is 60.6:1, which is 296% higher than the Tennessee average of 15.3:1 and 286% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Memphis Merit Academy?
The largest demographic group at Memphis Merit Academy is African American at 95.5% of enrollment, in Memphis, TN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Memphis Merit Academy?
Memphis Merit Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Memphis Merit Academy rank among elementary schools in Memphis?
By Resource Investment Index, Memphis Merit Academy ranks #15 of 33 elementary schools in Memphis, TN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Memphis on the city page.
What other schools are in Memphis-Shelby County Schools?
Besides Memphis Merit Academy, Memphis-Shelby County Schools also operates Cordova High School (2,251 students), White Station High (2,046 students), and Germantown High (1,719 students). See the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district page for the complete list.