Memphis-Shelby County Schools: 2026-27 calendar dates, the school zone locator, enrollment papers, board meetings and the state's 2024-25 letter grades.
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts on this page come from Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ home page, 2026-27 student calendar (PDF), registration page and school board page, and the Tennessee Department of Education’s 2024-25 A-F letter grade file and 2024-25 school profile file.
Every public school in Memphis, with its zone and report card: Memphis public schools.
Public schools in Memphis are run by Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS), one of the largest districts in Tennessee, with about 105,900 students in 206 schools in the state’s 2024-25 school profile file. Students are on fall break through Monday, Oct. 19, and return Tuesday, Oct. 20. To find your zoned school, use the district’s School Zone Locator. The district’s main number is 901-416-5300.
Who to call
- Memphis-Shelby County Schools: 901-416-5300, Frances E. Coe Administration Building, 160 S. Glenn Rogers St.
- Pre-K registration: 901-416-3450, prekregistration@scsk12.org
- Optional schools: 901-416-5338, SCSOP@scsk12.org
- Screening appointments (Assessment Department): 901-416-5450
- Families without stable housing (McKinney-Vento): 901-416-9875
- School zone: School Zone Locator
2026-27 calendar
From the district’s student calendar, which MSCS says is pending approval by the Tennessee Department of Education:
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Oct. 12-19 | Fall break (students out) |
| Tuesday, Oct. 20 | Students return; second quarter begins |
| Wednesday, Nov. 11 | Veterans Day (students out) |
| Nov. 23-27 | Thanksgiving break |
| Dec. 16-18 | Semester exams; Dec. 18 ends the first semester |
| Dec. 21 to Jan. 4 | Winter break |
| Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2027 | Students return |
| Monday, Jan. 18 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day (students out) |
| Monday, Feb. 15 | Presidents Day (students out) |
| March 15-19 | Spring break; a second break falls on March 26 and 29 |
| Thursday, May 20 | Last day for students |
Parent-teacher conferences run 4 to 7 p.m.: Jan. 21 for high schools, Jan. 26 for middle schools and Jan. 28 for elementary schools. Bell times for every school are in the district’s 2026-27 bell times list (PDF).
Enrolling a student
According to the registration page, new students submit the district’s required documents to the zoned or approved transfer school, including:
- Two approved proofs of residence
- Required immunizations, listed on the district’s immunizations page
Children experiencing homelessness have the right to enroll immediately, even without those papers. MSCS also runs optional schools, application-based programs with their own deadlines, listed on its optional schools page.
Ratings
Tennessee gives every eligible school an A to F letter grade based on achievement, growth and, for high schools, college and career readiness. In the 2024-25 grades, the 223 schools listed under Memphis-Shelby County Schools, which include charter schools, were graded like this:
The district high schools that earned an A were Germantown High, Medical District High, Middle College High, White Station High and Whitehaven High. Bolton, Central, Cordova, Douglass, East, Mitchell, Oakhaven, Raleigh-Egypt and Ridgeway high schools earned a B.
For test scores, graduation rates and more on any school, use the state’s public report card, and see the School Letter Grades page for how grades are figured.
School board meetings
The Shelby County Board of Education holds its business meetings at 5:30 p.m. on the last Tuesday of the month in the auditorium of the Frances E. Coe Administration Building, 160 S. Glenn Rogers St., with work sessions one week earlier. The next business meetings are Tuesday, Oct. 27 (work session Oct. 20) and Tuesday, Nov. 17 (work session Nov. 10). Meetings stream live and air on Cable TV Channel 19 and 88.5 FM; agendas are on BoardDocs, and the public can sign up to speak at business meetings.
What this means for you
- Check your zoned school on the locator before you sign a lease or buy.
- Keep two proofs of residence handy for registration.
- Look past the letter grade to the state report card for the school you are choosing.
More guides: moving to Memphis, home prices and Friday night football.
Which high schools serve each part of the city: our Memphis neighborhoods guide.
Frequently asked questions
What school district is Memphis in?
Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS), the district for the City of Memphis and unincorporated Shelby County. Its main number is 901-416-5300.
When is fall break for Memphis-Shelby County Schools?
Fall break for 2026-27 is Oct. 12-19, with students back Tuesday, Oct. 20. Thanksgiving break is Nov. 23-27 and winter break runs Dec. 21 to Jan. 4; students return Jan. 5, 2027.
When is the last day of school for MSCS in 2027?
Thursday, May 20, 2027, after semester exams May 18-20. The district notes its calendar is pending approval by the Tennessee Department of Education.
How do I find which Memphis school my address is zoned for?
Use the MSCS School Zone Locator. To enroll, take two approved proofs of residence and the required immunization records to the zoned or approved transfer school.
How are Memphis-Shelby County Schools rated?
On Tennessee’s 2024-25 letter grades, 16 MSCS and charter schools received an A, 52 a B, 66 a C, 42 a D and 24 an F; 23 were not eligible for a grade.
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