Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 216 schools in district

American Way Middle

3805 American Way, Memphis, TN 38118Memphis-Shelby County Schools
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 0608Non-Charter
690
Students
Total enrolled
$15,292
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
7% vs nat'l
16.5 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
7% vs nat'l
33/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
34% vs nat'l
Mid-sized public school
Serves 690 students in grades 06–08 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Near-average funding
District spends $15,292 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 33th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

American Way Middle is a large middle in Memphis, Tennessee, serving grades 06–08 with 690 students. The district invests $15,292 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, with a 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. A neighborhood opportunity score of 33/100 — below the national median of 50 — is worth factoring into a fuller picture of long-term student outcomes.

Student Body & Demographics at American Way Middle

690
Total Students
16.5 : 1
Student:Teacher
Free Lunch
42
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (0608) are served by this school
Gender Distribution363 male · 327 female
53%
47%
Male 53%Female 47%
Student Composition
35%
62%
Hispanic / Latino35%
Black62%
Multiracial3%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 470014802040

Academic Outcomes at American Way Middle

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
33
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 33th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 6th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 38118

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$15,292Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$15,292
State avg
$16,278
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,728
Student Support$2,905
Administration$1,835
Operations$2,294
Other$1,529
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $15,292 spent per student, an estimated $6,774 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
37%
35%
State government
37.0%
Local (property tax)
34.5%
Federal programs
28.5%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • Below-median neighborhood opportunity score (33/100) — national median is 50
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location
CountyShelby County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
Phone: (901)416-1250
NCES ID: 470014802040
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Memphis seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing a solid, no-frills public education. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

Location
3805 American Way, Memphis, TN 38118
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.