As Memphis school choice process begins, one Memphis mom says her children are better off because of it
As a parent who prioritizes giving her children the best education, not limited by location, Asia Jackson has continuously utilized school choice to make this possible.Jackson is the mother of 13-year-old 8th grade twins—her daughter Jordyn and her son Jaedyn—who currently attend Memphis School of Excellence at Cordova. They’ve attended the school since their 7th grade year when Jackson decided to give a public charter school a chance and see if her children might benefit.“Memphis School of Excellence at Cordova Campus is actually close to my house. They bus out of my neighborhood,” said Jackson. “I wanted to give charter schools a chance just to see what I could gain.”Jackson utilized the Memphis-Shelby County Schools optional school transfer to move her children from the middle school they were attending to the Memphis School of Excellence.It’s the same process she used years earlier to move her children outside her zoned school to Idlewild Elementary.Jackson says the school choice process itself has really become much easier for parents over the years. The first time she used it, Jackson had to stand in line and get a number from the Board of Education. Now parents can go online and fill out an application. Students are put on a list based on when they submit their application.“Back then they didn’t have the PowerSchool [ID], so now they do the PowerSchool and that makes it easy for parents. Because you get the same login each year and just go in and update your kids’ demographic information and so that makes it an easy process.”Parents will be able to go directly to the site and apply from any device. A valid email is required and parents of current MSCS students can apply using their PowerSchool ID. Students can apply for two general choice options and/or two optional schools.“Whether you’re looking for a school with a specialized learning focus and competitive entry requirements, an innovative setting to meet your child’s unique learning needs, or a beloved community school in your neighborhood, Memphis-Shelby County Schools has the most choices for students and families. Search for any MSCS school by grade level or program,” said the site.Jackson will be using this program a third time this year when the process begins on Monday to send her children to Germantown High School. She feels the school has both a greater sports selection and enriching curriculum for her kids."I'm a stickler on academics. I like that I'm able to go on the Shelby County website and look at the test scores and compare the schools. Germantown High School has very enriched academics along with great sports and activities that my kids will love to be involved in,” Jackson said.As a parent, being able to look at the different schools and see their test scores, teacher-student rations, what the schools offer and the diversity in order find the best fit for her kids is important to Jackson.“Kids learn differently. And for them to give us that option to go out there and kinda shop around and look at what different schools offer, I think it’s very importing [to give] parents a choice in that matter,” she stated.Memphis-Shelby County Schools is hosting the School Choice Showcase Saturday at Hickory Ridge Towne Centre to help parents interested in taking part in the optional schools application and general choice transfer process learn more about schools in the district.
