MSCS parents voice concerns at community meeting as schools face possible closure

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Five Memphis-Shelby County Schools could be closed or transferred to another school district by next school year, with district leaders citing underutilization as the primary reason for the proposed changes.

The list below shows the proposed changes:

• Lucy Elementary – Proposed transfer to Millington Municipal School District
• Ida B. Wells Academy – Closure/Repurpose for District Use
• Frayser-Corning Elementary – Closure/Consolidation
• Chickasaw Middle – Closure/Consolidation
• Georgian Hills Elementary – Closure/Consolidation

Parents gathered at Georgian Hills Elementary School on Monday night to voice concerns about the potential closure of their children’s school, one of five schools facing consolidation or transfer.

According to MSCS, Georgian Hills Elementary School would be dissolved into Whitney and Hawkins Mills Elementary Schools based on utilization, condition and capacity factors.

Those two schools are around five miles from Georgian Hills.

“I’m pretty much upset, my son grew up at this school,” said Varshea Dukes, a parent at Georgian Hills Elementary School.

Parents, students, and staff attended Monday night’s community meeting about the consolidation. Many expressed concerns about the impact on their children.

“This is kind of a little rough for us because all he talks about is his friends and his teachers. That’s pretty much it, it’s just his feelings,” Dukes said.

District leaders said Georgian Hills is utilized at around 78%, while the other two elementary schools are utilized between 48-52%.

Georgian Hills is the oldest school of the three, having been built in 1951.

MSCS leaders said it would be more efficient to utilize schools that are not full, rather than continue to pack an aged, smaller school.

One parent said that if her son has to change schools, it could disrupt his educational progress due to his learning disability.

“We’re used to this school. We are used to the staff, the teachers. My son has a condition; therefore, having him go to a different school, we have to learn people all over again,” the parent said.

The community meetings represent phase two of a five-phase process. The next phase will involve a legal review of the consolidation proposal.

MSCS officials did not provide details about what would happen to Georgian Hills if consolidations move forward when asked by parents at the meeting.

The school board will vote on these recommendations in February 2026.

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