Memphis-Shelby County School Board Approves Two High-Quality Public Education Options for Memphis Families

Memphis — Tennesseans for Student Success (TSS) released the following statement to applaud last night’s decision by the Memphis-Shelby County School Board to support young women by approving the Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory STEAM School for Girls and families in Northeast Memphis by approving Journey Northeast Academy.

“The changing economy in Memphis is opening doors for workers who have the foundation in science and technology that Memphis-Grizzlies Preparatory STEAM School for Girls will provide and Journey Northeast Academy’s focus on literacy will be a welcome addition to close achievement gaps for economically disadvantaged and students of color,” said Lana Skelo, President and CEO of Tennesseans for Student Success. “Earlier this year our organization conducted a thorough independent review of the applications for both Memphis Grizzlies and Journey Northeast Academy and found them to be high-quality public education options for families. We’re pleased to see the Memphis-Shelby County School Board agree with our analysis and the role these schools will fill helping Memphis create a dynamic public education landscape.”

The Memphis-Grizzlies Preparatory STEAM School for Girls will serve 6-8 grade students in downtown Memphis with a science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) focused education. The all-girls school will serve as a sister school to the Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory Charter School that has provided middle-school boys with a high-quality STEAM focused education for more than a decade and most recently achieved Reward school status for a high level of performance and/or growth in the 2021/2022 school year.

Journey Northeast Academy will serve K-8 grade students with a similar focus on literacy that Journey Community Schools utilizes in its two other public charter schools.

You can read our review of the application for both schools on our Quality Charter Review page.

Tennesseans for Student Success is a statewide network of parents and caregivers, teachers, community leaders, volunteers, and advocates dedicated to championing and supporting Tennessee’s students and their futures.