Memphis-Shelby County Schools is thrilled that plans are moving forward to secure funding for construction of a new Frayser-area high school. On Thursday, April 20, county Mayor Lee Harris and MSCS Superintendent Toni Williams announced funding plans at the Frayser Exchange Club’s weekly meeting.

“The Frayser community is long overdue for this type of transformative investment,” said District 3 School Board member Stephanie Love, who represents Frayser. “We know that a new school brings new energy and new programming to the community, and I want to thank Shelby County Commissioners in advance for their support, and I hope to see investment in Woodstock and Raleigh too. I am excited about the progress, but the work must continue until the day students walk the halls of the new Frayser high school.”

Trezevant High Principal Corey Kelly echoed Love’s sentiments.

“For five years, I have joined Board Member Love and community advocates in pushing for funding for a new high school,” said Kelly. “When you walk the halls of schools in the neighborhood, you realize the great need for such an investment in our students, so I’m excited that Frayser students will soon get the type of facility and programming they deserve.”

Earlier this month, Superintendent Williams presented to the County Commission the District’s proposed budget for the 2023-24 school year. The proposal included a request to continue the pre-construction work of a new high school for the Frayser community.

With Mayor Harris’ announced support, MSCS students hopefully will see two new state-of-the-art high schools constructed in the coming years. In December, Shelby County Commissioners voted to invest over $77 million to build a new Cordova-area high school. The two future schools will be the District’s first new high schools in over a decade.

“I thank Board Member Love for her leadership and tireless advocacy of this project, and Mayor Harris for his public support. Because of their efforts, and the work of so many community leaders, kids win again,” said Superintendent Williams. “This is what it means to be triumphant together.”