Bolton High School is a public high school located in unincorporated Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, that is a part of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district. Bolton High School is located northwest of the town of Arlington.
Serving 678 students in grades 9-12, Bolton High School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Tennessee for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is ≤1% (which is lower than the Tennessee state average of 31%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 18% (which is lower than the Tennessee state average of 37%).
The student:teacher ratio of 16:1 is higher than the Tennessee state level of 15:1.
Minority enrollment is 93% of the student body (majority Black), which is higher than the Tennessee state average of 43% (majority Black).
Quick Stats (2025)
- School Type: Magnet School
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 678 students
- Student:Teacher Ratio: 16:1
- Minority Enrollment: 93%
- Graduation Rate: 75-79% (Btm 50% in TN)
- Overall Testing Rank: Bottom 50%
- Math Proficiency: ≤1% (Btm 50%)
- Reading Proficiency: 18% (Btm 50%)
- Science Proficiency: 35-39% (Top 50%)
- Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), TN Dept. of Education
Top Rankings
Bolton High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Tennessee for:
Category
Attribute
Percent Eligible For Free Lunch
School Overview
Bolton High School's student population of 678 students has declined by 25% over five school years.
The teacher population of 42 teachers has declined by 23% over five school years.
School Type
Grades Offered
Grades 9-12
(No virtual instruction)
(No virtual instruction)
Total Students
678 students
Gender %
Total Classroom Teachers
42 teachers
Year Founded
1887
School Rankings
Bolton High School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 1,761 schools in Tennessee (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Bolton High School is 0.32, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.61. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall Testing Rank
#1646 out of 1761 schools
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
≤1%
31%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
18%
37%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
35-39%
40%
Student : Teacher Ratio
16:1
15:1
American Indian
n/a
n/a
Asian
n/a
2%
Hispanic
7%
15%
Black
82%
21%
White
7%
57%
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
4%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
Graduation Rate
75-79%
90%
Participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Yes
Eligible for Free Lunch
91%
45%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
19%
6%
School Statewide Testing
School District Name
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), TN Dept. of Education
Profile last updated: 02/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bolton High School's ranking?
Bolton High School is ranked #1646 out of 1,761 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Tennessee.
What schools are Bolton High School often compared to?
Bolton High Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Bartlett High School, Arlington High School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
≤1% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 31% TN state average), while 18% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 37% TN state average).
What is the graduation rate of Bolton High School?
The graduation rate of Bolton High School is 75-79%, which is lower than the Tennessee state average of 90%.
How many students attend Bolton High School?
678 students attend Bolton High School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
82% of Bolton High School students are Black, 7% of students are Hispanic, 7% of students are White, and 4% of students are Two or more races.
What is the student:teacher ratio of Bolton High School?
Bolton High School has a student ration of 16:1, which is higher than the Tennessee state average of 15:1.
What grades does Bolton High School offer ?
Bolton High School offers enrollment in grades 9-12 (No virtual instruction).
What school district is Bolton High School part of?
Bolton High School is part of Memphis-Shelby County Schools School District.
School Reviews
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