MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Four more Shelby County Schools are joining the Achievement School District.
The schools will join for the 2016-2017 school year.
Kirby Middle School, Caldwell-Guthrie Elementary School, Raleigh-Egypt Middle School and Hillcrest High are the chosen schools.
Sheffield Elementary was thought to be on the list also, but will remain with the Shelby County School system.
“The input we received from parents, teachers, and community members was critical in making these matches,” said
Malika Anderson, incoming ASD superintendent said in a news release. “And we look forward to working shoulder to shoulder with parents and
educators in our new schools to ensure every child meets their full potential.”
Green Dot Public Schools and Scholar Academies will oversee the schools.
The Achievement School District is able to match schools with charter operators if the schools are in the bottom 5 percent in the state and do not show the necessary gains.
State Representative Antonio Parkinson, who has been outspoken against ASD said he is now exploring other options to keep Raleigh-Egypt Middle School under local control.
“We have been informed that four of the schools involved in the ASD’s school conversion process this fall will be joining the ASD in 2016-17.
Shelby County Schools released this statement in regards to the announcement: “These schools are Caldwell Guthrie Elementary, Kirby Middle, Raleigh Egypt Middle and Hillcrest High. We recognize this has been a very emotional process for these schools and their communities. By informing parents and staff members early on about why their schools were eligible for the ASD, we hope everyone had opportunities to become involved in the ASD’s community engagement process over the past few month. Student achievement is still our most important goal, so parents and staff can be assured that we will continue to support them the rest of this school year. Additionally, we will continue to help parents understand all of the options they have to remain with the District by attending another SCS school in 2016-17.”
