Memphis-Shelby County Schools board to vote Tuesday on plan affecting five campuses and student assignments
Board decision expected as district cites enrollment shifts, building conditions, and long-term facilities costs
Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) is scheduled to vote Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, on a set of proposals that would close or transfer five school sites to students ahead of the next academic year. The package under consideration includes campus closures, consolidations into nearby schools, and a proposed transfer of one elementary school to another district.
The five campuses under review are Chickasaw Middle School, Frayser-Corning Elementary School, Georgian Hills Elementary School, Ida B. Wells Academy, and Lucy Elementary School. District planning has framed the proposals as a response to declining enrollment in parts of the system, changing neighborhood population patterns, facility condition, and building utilization.
What the proposals would do
Chickasaw Middle School: Proposed closure/consolidation, with students reassigned as part of a restructuring plan in the Westwood area.
Frayser-Corning Elementary School: Proposed closure/consolidation, with students to be reassigned among nearby campuses.
Georgian Hills Elementary School: Proposed closure/consolidation, with students expected to be redistributed to other area elementary schools.
Ida B. Wells Academy: Proposed closure with the site repurposed for district use.
Lucy Elementary School (Millington area): Proposed transfer out of MSCS to the Millington Municipal Schools system, contingent on intergovernmental agreements.
Community concerns and district rationale
The closure and consolidation proposals have drawn focused attention from families and community members, particularly in neighborhoods where school buildings function as community anchors. At public meetings, residents have raised questions about longer commutes, transportation reliability, the disruption of peer groups and staffing, and how younger students would be supported during transitions.
One recurring theme in public discussion has been the proposed reconfiguration involving Chickasaw Middle and Westwood-area schools. Parents and advocates have asked district leaders to clarify student safety planning, supervision, and academic supports if grade configurations change and students are combined across campuses.
MSCS has described the proposals as part of a facilities-footprint and utilization strategy intended to align building capacity with current enrollment and reduce future maintenance obligations.
Process and next steps if approved
The district’s process has included impact reporting and scheduled public engagement, with the Feb. 24 vote positioned as the board decision point. If the board approves closures, consolidations, or the Lucy Elementary transfer, MSCS would move into an implementation window that includes formal notifications, student reassignment and rezoning actions, transportation planning, and staffing transitions in the months leading into the 2026–27 school year.
If the board votes down some or all of the proposals, MSCS would need to revise its near-term facilities plan and present alternative options for managing utilization and building needs across the affected regions.