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A Brief History of Memphis City Schools
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. 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. 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
Memphis High Schools and Their Founding Dates (Non-annexed) Messick, 1908
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 1910 — 80 percent of the white school-age population of Memphis is enrolled in public 1919 — Board of Education faces a deficit of $100,000. 1920 — Memphis City Schools reached a population of 20,364 students. In February, 1921 — The school budget is $1.7 million. 1958 — Memphis City Schools annexes the Frayser area, gaining six schools and 6,041 1965 — Memphis City Schools annexes the Oakhaven-Parkway Village area, gaining 1968 — Memphis City Schools annexes the Westwood-Walker Homes area, gaining 10 1969 — Memphis City Schools annexes the Whitehaven area, gaining 13 schools and 1971 — Memphis City Schools annexes the Boxtown/Coro Lake area, gaining two 1972 — Memphis City Schools annexes the Raleigh (South) area, gaining four schools 1973 — The school budget is $3.5 million. 1973 — Jan. 24, Memphis City Schools are integrated, and court-ordered busing is 1974 — Memphis City Schools annexes the Raleigh (North) area, gaining three schools 1988 — School enrollment is 104,000 in 162 school buildings worth more than $200 1997 — Enrollment reaches 108,000, with a $500 million budget for 162 schools. Per 1998 — Memphis City Schools annexes the Hickory Hill area, gaining four schools and 2004 — Memphis City Schools annexes Cordova High School and Kate Bond Elementary
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