University Schools Awarded “A” Letter Grades by Tennessee Department of Education
December 21, 2023 — In an announcement released today by the Tennessee Department of Education, the Campus
School, University Middle School and University High School all received “A” school
letter grades in the state’s new accountability system, making the three schools the
only K12 school compendium in the Memphis Shelby County School District to receive
such distinction.
School letter grades measure how the state’s K-12 schools are serving students and helping them to succeed academically. This is the first year school letter grades have been awarded in the State of Tennessee following legislation that passed in 2016 establishing a state-wide school level grading system.
The University Schools letter grades reflect the highest grades an individual school can receive and reflect the highest level of success across the following measured indicators: overall success rate for achievement, overall growth, growth for the lowest performing 25% of students in each school and college and career readiness.
“We are proud of our schools and the work they do to help students to grow and achieve within our classrooms and within our community” said Dr. Sally G. Parish, associate vice president for Educational Initiatives at the University of Memphis. “We have a truly diverse school community, with students joining us from every local zip code. These letter grades reinforce that every student can succeed within our University Schools, and we are proud of the work of our teachers and school leaders who make a difference in the lives of our children every day.”
In addition to the recent “A” report card designation, University Schools have also been recognized as Reward Schools, Innovative School Models, STEM and STEAM Designated Schools, Blue Ribbon Schools and Trauma Informed Schools for the State of Tennessee. Their 2022-23 school data reflected the highest success rate of any public school system in the state.
“Today’s letter grade announcement recognizes the tremendous achievement of our University Schools, which serve as a training and laboratory school compendium for the entire State of Tennessee,” said Dr. David Russomanno, executive vice president for Academic Affairs and provost at the University of Memphis. “Our University Schools are a long-standing and unique part of our University community, and they serve a critical role in preparing the next generation of teachers, leaders and learners across Memphis. We are fortunate to have them as part of our University culture and community and look forward to supporting their continued growth and success.”
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