Memphis’s public school system has come a long way in the past two centuries. What began as schools held in people’s homes has now turned into the 21st largest school system in the nation and the second largest employer in the City of Memphis. Memphis City Schools operates on a $773.6 million budget for 191 schools, 16,000 employees and 119,000 students.

From 1826, the year the Memphis school system was chartered, until 1848, all Memphis schools were privately offered by well-to-do citizens. The first recorded school in Memphis was taught by a man named Underwood from Alabama in 1826. Other schools followed, taught by businessmen and clergymen in their businesses, churches and homes.

The best known of early Memphis educators is Eugene Magevney, who opened a school in Memphis in 1833 with the teaching experience he brought here from Ireland and Pennsylvania.
Education was scarce for lower- to middle-class white children and non-existent for black children. That changed, however, with the opening of the first free school in 1848, named Third and Overton for its location.

In this year, a system of free schools was adopted in the city largely through the influence of J.W.A. Pettit, often referred to as the father of the free school system of Memphis. He opened the first free school, quickly followed by a second at Main and Overton.
The city was divided into four educational wards, and each ward had one teacher in one rented schoolroom. There was a fee of $2 per student, although little effort was made to enforce this tuition.

Through Pettit’s influence, Memphis began assigning city treasury funds to schools, with a first year budget of $20,000. Pettit, the first superintendent was not paid. Then, in 1852, when there were 13 schools, the treasury imposed a city school tax rate, followed by a county school tax rate in 1854.

The creation of these tax rates allowed children who formerly could not afford school tuition to receive a public education, but it would still be another 20 years before public education was extended to black citizens.

In 1868, the City of Memphis began supporting public schools for black students, and in 1891, the first class graduated from a black public high school. The first recorded black public school was Clay Street School. Founded in 1873, it closed its doors in 1950.

The oldest school still in use by the Memphis City Schools system is Cummings Elementary, which was erected in 1902 for white students at 1037 Cummings and still operates in that same spot. The oldest school still in use that was originally for the education of black students is Klondike Elementary School, which was built in 1902 at 1250 Vollintine.

Prior to Jan. 24, 1973, segregation was practiced in most Memphis City Schools. However, in that year, court-ordered busing was instituted to help integrate the schools.

The order caused a great deal of controversy, and many white parents withdrew their children from the Memphis City Schools system in favor of private schools. In January alone, 7,532 students withdrew from the public district.

An activist group, Citizens Against Busing, even opened five temporary private schools to accommodate the white students on waiting lists for acceptance to private Memphis schools.

Through a series of annexations, Memphis City Schools now operates 191 schools across the City of Memphis under Dr. Carol R. Johnson, superintendent. Almost 90 percent of the district’s students are black, and more than 70 percent come from low-income families.

Superintendents

1848 -- J.W.A. Pettit
1908 -- I.C. McNeil
1919 -- W. Jones
1943 -- E.C. Ball
1957 – 1971 -- E.C. Stimbert
1971 – 1978 -- John P. Freeman
1979 – 1991 -- Dr. W.W. Herenton
1991 – 1992 -- L. Ray Holt
1992 – 2000 – Dr. Gerry House
2000 – 2003 -- Johnnie B. Watson
2003 – 2007 -- Dr. Carol R. Johnson
Present --Dan Ward

Memphis High Schools and Their Founding Dates (Non-annexed)

Messick, 1908
Central, 1911
Treadwell, 1915
South Side, 1922
Humes, 1925
Booker T. Washington, 1926
Technical, 1928
Manassas, 1927
Hamilton, 1942

Timeline

1890 — 40 percent of the school-age population of Memphis is enrolled in public school.

1900 — The school budget is $144,000.

1903 — The school system has 12 brick buildings and 12 frame buildings worth
$550,000. Total enrollment is 11,071.

1910 — 80 percent of the white school-age population of Memphis is enrolled in public
school, and 60 percent of black children aged 6 to 14 is enrolled in school.

1919 — Board of Education faces a deficit of $100,000.

1920 — Memphis City Schools reached a population of 20,364 students. In February,
schools are closed due to an influenza epidemic. In April, teachers’ salaries are raised to $1,000 for grade school and $2,000 for high school.

1921 — The school budget is $1.7 million.

1958 — Memphis City Schools annexes the Frayser area, gaining six schools and 6,041
students.

1965 — Memphis City Schools annexes the Oakhaven-Parkway Village area, gaining
eight schools and 6,051 students.

1968 — Memphis City Schools annexes the Westwood-Walker Homes area, gaining 10
schools and 8,998 students.

1969 — Memphis City Schools annexes the Whitehaven area, gaining 13 schools and
10,500 students.

1971 — Memphis City Schools annexes the Boxtown/Coro Lake area, gaining two
schools and 1,200 students. Enrollment reaches 14,738.

1972 — Memphis City Schools annexes the Raleigh (South) area, gaining four schools
and 3,031 students. Enrollment reaches 18,733.

1973 — The school budget is $3.5 million.

1973 — Jan. 24, Memphis City Schools are integrated, and court-ordered busing is
instituted.

1974 — Memphis City Schools annexes the Raleigh (North) area, gaining three schools
and 3,021 students. There are 160 schools in the Memphis City Schools system.

1988 — School enrollment is 104,000 in 162 school buildings worth more than $200
million.

1997 — Enrollment reaches 108,000, with a $500 million budget for 162 schools. Per
pupil expenditure is $5,418.

1998 — Memphis City Schools annexes the Hickory Hill area, gaining four schools and
6,000 students.

2004 — Memphis City Schools annexes Cordova High School and Kate Bond Elementary
School, gaining approximately 3,000 students. Operating budget is $773.6 for 191 schools and 119,000 students.