Education


One important question people relocating to a new area are confronted with is how to choose the right school for their child. And with so many educational choices here in Memphis, the prospect can seem daunting. But it’s one of those good problems. There are many excellent private, public, parochial, charter, optional and adult schools available to residents.

Shelby County is comprised of two separate school systems: Memphis City Schools (MCS) for students in the city limits, and Shelby County Schools (SCS) for those outside the city limits. MCS offers 209 schools to more than 105,000 students grades K-12, making it the largest school system in Tennessee. MCS is also the second largest employer in Memphis, with 15,990 local employees. MCS has 188 National Board Certified Teachers — more than any other school system in the state. Ninety-five percent of the teachers in MCS are considered “highly qualified” by the standards of the No Child Left Behind Law.

The system also had 17 National Merit Semifinalists in 2009-2010. In 2010, the senior class received more than $139 million in scholarship offers. MCS's Douglass Elementary was one of 200 schools in the nation to be selected as a 2010 National No Child Left Behind “Blue Ribbon School.”

Many of Memphis’ and America’s greats were products of the Memphis City School system, including entertainers such as Isaac Hayes, Kathy Bates, and Elvis Presley and entrepreneurs such as Avron B. Fogelman and Abe Plough.

The other school system in the county is Shelby County Schools, the fourth-largest school system in Tennessee. The system has more than 46,000 students, and Money Magazine recently recognized SCS as one of the “Top 100 School Systems” in America.

SchoolMatch has also honored the system for ten consecutive years with their “What Parents Want” award.


For a list of Memphis-area colleges, universities, and technical schools, click here.


To find educational institutions and programs specific to the transportation and logistics industry, click here.


For information about the Memphis Youth Career Development Program, click here.


MEMPHIS CITY SCHOOLS

2597 Avery Ave. | 901.416.5300 | www.mcsk12.net

SHELBY COUNTY SCHOOLS

160 S. Hollywood | 901.321.2500 | www.scsk12.org

OPTIONAL PROGRAMS

The Memphis City Schools optional program gives parents choices in selecting a public education that can best fit their children’s talents and abilities. Optional elementary programs focus on different approaches to education. These programs enrich, supplement, and broaden the standard school curriculum. Optional programs at the middle school and high school levels are designed to prepare students for college and careers. Optional schools are tuition-free and accessible to residents from all parts of the city.

There are two types of schools in the city’s optional program. Most programs exist as a school-within-a-school, which means the optional program is offered in addition to traditional classes or programs. However, 10 schools exist exclusively as optional schools: All students who attend these 10 schools participate in the optional program. An asterisk (*) in the listings that follow designates the school as optional-only. Call the Office of Optional Schools at 325-5338 for more information on the program.

CHARTER SCHOOLS

Charter schools are independent public schools of choice. They control their own budget, curriculum, and staffi ng. Memphis’ charter schools maximize students’ potential by focusing on specific areas of academic interests and employing creative learning techniques. Charter programs prepare children for college by learning how to function productively in a global and technologically advanced society.

CIRCLES OF SUCCESS LEARNING ACADEMY (COSLA)

CITY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LIBERAL ARTS

MEMPHIS ACADEMY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

MEMPHIS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (MASE)

  • Middle school: 20 S. Dudley St. (38103)
  • (901) 448-6273
  • High school: 1254 Jefferson Ave.
  • www.discovermase.org
  • Grades: 6-12

MEMPHIS BUSINESS ACADEMY

  • Middle School: 3333 Old Brownsville Road (38134)
  • (901) 380-8176
  • High School: 2450 Frayser Blvd. (38167)
  • (901) 358-1651
  • www.mbacharter.com
  • Grades: 6-9

MEMPHIS COLLEGE PREPARATORY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

PROMISE ACADEMY

SOULSVILLE CHARTER SCHOOL

  • 910 McLemore Ave. (38106)
  • (901) 942-7627
  • Grades: 6-12

Located adjacent to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. Provides an academically rigorous, musically rich environment with the mission of fully preparing students both academically and emotionally for college.

SOUTHERN AVENUE CHARTER SCHOOL OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND CREATIVE ARTS

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

There are more than 35 SACS-accredited private and parochial schoolsi n the Memphis area. These schools have a combined enrollment of over 15,000. Covering pre-school through high school education, they offer a range of programs for all kinds of learning styles, many featuring alternative teaching methods. All stress outstanding academic standards.

BORNBLUM SOLOMON SCHECHTER

BRIARCREST CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS

  • 6000 Briarcrest (38120)
  • (901) 765-4600
  • www.briarcrest.com
  • Grades: preK-8
  • Additional locations:
  • 1620 Houston Levee Road (38018)
  • (901) 737-1356
  • Grades: PreK-5
  • 10103 Raleigh-LaGrange Road, Eads (38028)
  • (901) 751-6400
  • Grades: 9-12

CENTRAL DAY SCHOOL

CHRIST METHODIST DAY SCHOOL

CHRIST THE KING LUTHERAN SCHOOL

CHRIST THE ROCK CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

CHRISTIAN BROTHERS HIGH SCHOOL

  • 5900 Walnut Grove (38120)
  • (901) 261-4900
  • www.cbhs.org
  • Grades: 9-12

EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

  • 7600 Macon (38018)
  • (901) 754-7217
  • www.ecseagles.net
  • Grades: 6-12
  • Additional locations:
  • 1920 Forest Hill-Irene (38139)
  • (901) 754-4420
  • Grades: Jr.K-5
  • 735 Ridgelake Blvd. (38120)
  • (901) 683-9013
  • Grades: Jr.K-5
  • ECS at Fisherville
  • 11893 Macon Rd., Eads, TN (38028)
  • (901) 850-9652
  • Grades: Jr.K-4 (grade levels advance each year to fifth)

FAYETTE ACADEMY

FIRST ASSEMBLY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

  • 8650 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova (38018)
  • (901) 458-5543
  • www.facsmemphis.org
  • Grades: Jr. K-12
  • Additional location:
  • Cordova Learning Center
  • 8229 Rockcreek Parkway (38106)
  • (901) 384-3816
  • Grades: Jr. K (ages 2-4)

GRACE-ST. LUKE’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

HARDING ACADEMY

  • 1100 Cherry (38117)
  • (901) 767-4494
  • www.hardinglions.org
  • Grades: early childhood ages 2-3, grades 7-12
  • Additional locations:
  • 8350 Macon (38018)
  • (901) 624-0871 / (901) 757-1008
  • Grades: early childhood and Kindergarten
  • 8360 Macon (38018)
  • (901) 624-0522
  • Grades: 1-6
  • 8220 E. Shelby Dr. (38125)
  • (901) 755-5662
  • Grades: Jr.K-6
  • 1106 Colonial (38117)
  • (901) 767-2093
  • Grades: Jr.K-6

HUTCHISON SCHOOL

IMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL

LAGRANGE MONTESSORI SCHOOL

LAMPLIGHTER MONTESSORI SCHOOL

LAUSANNE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL

MACON ROAD BAPTIST SCHOOL

  • 1082 Berclair (38122)
  • (901) 682-5420
  • www.maconroadbaptist.org
  • Grades: K4-12
  • Additional location:
  • Macon Road Baptist School East
  • 11017 Highway 64, Arlington, TN (38002)
  • (901) 867-8161
  • Grades: K3-9 (grades advancing up to 12)

MARGOLIN HEBREW ACADEMY - FEINSTONE YESHIVA OF THE SOUTH

  • 390 S. White Station Road (38117)
  • (901) 682-2409
  • www.mhafyos.org
  • Grades: preK-12

MARIA MONTESSORI SCHOOL

MEMPHIS JUNIOR ACADEMY

  • 50 North Mendenhall (38117)
  • (901) 683-1061
  • Grades: K-10

MEMPHIS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL

NEW HOPE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

  • 3000 University St. (38127)
  • (901) 358-3183
  • www.newhopememphis.org
  • Grades: K-6
  • Additional location:
  • New Hope Christian Academy Junior Kindergarten
  • 3277 N. Watkins (38127)
  • Grades: K4 only

PRESBYTERIAN DAY SCHOOL

ROSSVILLE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

ST. GEORGE’S INDEPENDENT SCHOOL, GERMANTOWN

  • 8250 Poplar, Germantown (38138)
  • (901) 261-2300
  • www.sgis.org
  • Grades: K3-5

ST. GEORGE’S INDEPENDENT SCHOOL, MEMPHIS

  • 3749 Kimball Ave. (38111)
  • (901) 261-2200
  • www.sgis.org
  • Grades: K3-5

ST. GEORGE’S INDEPENDENT SCHOOL, COLLIERVILLE

  • 1880 Wolf River Blvd., Collierville (38017)
  • (901) 457-2000
  • www.sgis.org
  • Grades: 6-12

ST. MARY’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

SBEC (SOUTHERN BAPTIST EDUCATIONAL CENTER)

TIPTON-ROSEMARK ACADEMY

WEST MEMPHIS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

  • 1101 N. Missouri Street, West Memphis, AR (72301)
  • (870) 400-4000
  • Elementary school
  • (870) 735-0642
  • www.wmcs.com
  • Grades: preK-6
  • Additional location:
  • Jr. and Sr. High School
  • 1101 N. Missouri Street
  • Grades: 7-12

WESTMINSTER ACADEMY

  • Ridgeway Baptist Church
  • 2500 Ridgeway Road (38119)
  • (901) 380-9192
  • www.wamemphis.com
  • Grades: K-12

WOODLAND PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOL

SPECIAL EDUCATION SCHOOLS

THE BODINE SCHOOL

  • 2432 Yester Oaks Dr., Germantown (38139)
  • (901) 754-1800
  • www.bodineschool.org
  • School for students with dyslexia and dyslexia-related learning disabilities.
  • Grade levels offered: 1-8

MADONNA LEARNING CENTER

  • 7007 Poplar Ave., Germantown (38138)
  • (901) 752-5767
  • www.madonna-learning.org
  • Individualized educational services for special-needs children and their families. Students represent all disabilities, including Down syndrome, developmental delays, learning disabilities, sensory processing disorders, and other learning challenges. Preschool program for ages 3 to 5.Grade levels offered: flexible levels, ungraded classrooms.

MEMPHIS ORAL SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF

At Memphis Oral School, deaf children are listening and talking. Small class sizes, daily speech therapy, and onsite cochlear implant mapping and therapy work toward this early intervention program’s goal of mainstreaming children into regular education programs. Through “Sound Beginnings,” parents with children under 3 learn from audiologists how to assist their child at home.

PHOENIX SCHOOL FOR CREATIVE LEARNING

  • 2404 Arthur Road, Germantown (38138)
  • (901) 757-4360
  • Grade levels offered: 6-12

Phoenix has an individualized and arts-based learning program for middle and high school students of average or above-average IQ. Students are diagnosed with ADD and/or other learning disabilities.

SHADY OAKS SCHOOL

Shady Oaks offers special, individualized instruction for students with ADD, dyslexia, and other learning diffi culties. Classes are held in a positive environment with multi-sensory reading and phonics designed to build self-confi dence and prepare students for the traditional classroom. Music, art, and Spanish offered. Tutoring is available.

SISTER RUTH ANN CENTER

  • 8250 Varnavas, Cordova (38016)
  • (901) 260-2898
  • www.cdom.org

Serving students ages 15 to 21 with a focus on academic, religious, and social studies. School work also targets prevocational and job skill training.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF MEMPHIS

The Catholic Diocese of Memphis administers 29 schools in the Memphis area, serving approximately 8,700 preK to 12th grade students. Tuition for Catholic diocese schools does not include individual school fees. Some schools offer family discounts and scholarships. An asterisk (*) indicates a private, non-diocesan school that sets its own tuition.

BISHOP BYRNE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL

CHURCH OF THE INCARNATION SCHOOL

  • 360 Bray Station Road, Collierville (38017)
  • (901) 853-7804
  • www.goics.org
  • Grades: preK-8

DE LA SALLE ELEMENTARY AT BLESSED SACRAMENT

HOLY NAMES ELEMENTARY

  • 709 Keel Ave. (38107)
  • (901) 507-1503
  • Grades: 3-8

HOLY ROSARY SCHOOL

  • 4841 Park Ave. (38117)
  • (901) 685-1231
  • Grades: K3-8

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHEDRAL SCHOOLS *

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION HIGH SCHOOL

  • 1725 Central Ave. (38104)
  • (901) 725-2705
  • Grades: 9-12

LITTLE FLOWER SCHOOL

  • 1666 Jackson Ave. (38107)
  • (901) 725-9900
  • Grades: preK4-2

MEMPHIS CATHOLIC MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL

  • 61 N. McLean Blvd. (38104)
  • (901) 276-1221
  • Grades: 7-12

OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP SCHOOL

  • 8151 Poplar Ave., Germantown (38138)
  • (901) 753-1181
  • www.olphowls.org
  • Grades: preK2-8

OUR LADY OF SORROWS SCHOOL

ST. AGNES ACADEMY/ST. DOMINIC SCHOOL *

  • 4830 Walnut Grove Road (38117)
  • (901) 767-1356
  • www.saa-sds.org
  • Grades: preK-12 (girls), preK-8 (boys)

ST. ANN SCHOOL - BARTLETT

  • 6529 Stage Road (38134)
  • (901) 386-3328
  • Grades: preK-8

ST. ANNE CATHOLIC SCHOOL

  • 670 South Highland Ave. (38111)
  • (901) 323-1344
  • www.stannehighland.net
  • Grades: preK-8 (now offering two-year-old preK)

ST. AUGUSTINE SCHOOL

  • 1169 Kerr Ave. (38106)
  • (901) 942-8002
  • Grades: preK4-6

ST. BENEDICT AT AUBURNDALE *

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

  • 2100 Germantown Parkway, Cordova (38016)
  • (901) 388-7321
  • www.sfawolves.org
  • Grades: K4-8

ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL

  • 3851 Neely Road (38109)
  • (901) 344-0021
  • Grades: preK3-6

ST. JOHN SCHOOL

  • 2718 Lamar Ave. (38114)
  • (901) 743-6700
  • www.cdom.org
  • Grades: preK3-6

ST. LOUIS SCHOOL

ST. MICHAEL PARISH SCHOOL

  • 3880 Forrest Ave. (38122)
  • (901) 323-2162
  • Grades: preK-8

ST. PAUL SCHOOL

  • 1425 E. Shelby Drive (38116)
  • (901) 346-0862
  • Grades: preK-6

ST. PATRICK SCHOOL

  • 277 South Fourth St. (38126)
  • (901) 521-3252
  • Grades: preK-4 (grade levels advance each year to sixth)

  • Sources:
    National Center for Education Statistics
    Memphis City Schools
    Shelby County Schools

    Page Updated 23 March 2011