Memphis-Shelby County School Board Approves Sale of Historic School Elvis Presley Attended

L.C. Humes High School, Memphis, circa 1925 (Photo by the University of Memphis)

Members of the Memphis-Shelby County School Board voted to sell two buildings Tuesday night, including the 3030 Jackson Campus and the former Humes Middle School.

The expense of maintaining and repairing both buildings played a key role in each decision, as the district has faced challenges in recent years keeping up some of its older facilities.

The decision to sell Humes Middle School was the most hotly debated of the two property moves.

Music legend Elvis Presley attended the 100-year-old historic school, and more than a decade ago, it became a public charter school operating under the state-run Achievement School District. The building has remained vacant since 2024, following a school board decision to shutter the public charter school.

Board meeting documents estimate the district would need to spend $14.6 million in maintenance over the next decade to keep the building operational.

Board members went into the meeting with a recommendation to sell Humes Middle School to New Ballet Ensemble for $257,000, with the organization’s commitment to use the building to operate a “performing arts school as a District contract school” there.

Board Debates Buyer Commitment

District 1 Board Member Michelle Robinson McKissack proposed removing the commitment section from the resolution, arguing it was far more important to make sure the sale goes through.

Board Member Michelle Robinson McKissack (Photo by Memphis-Shelby County Schools)

“I’d rather see it be sold and then I want to work with the school to see what kind of partnership, but right now, I think the greater concern is that building, which is historic in nature, the community has spoken plenty including tonight and over the last several months regarding their desire for that building so I’d like to see it sold tonight,” said McKissack. “You well know when buildings sit empty, they go down quickly, and at one point some on the board were talking about just giving them the building.”

District 2 Board Member Natalie McKinney was among several who opposed McKissack’s amendment. She worries that removing the district contract school commitment takes away any guarantee that any future school in the building would be a part of Memphis-Shelby County Schools. Shelby County has 8 school districts operating within its borders.

“This is about ensuring that our students take priority and that we don’t lose any students. We have a declining enrollment. This is something that has been committed to our students,” said McKinney.

Board members ultimately voted 6 to 3 to remove the district contract school commitment from the resolution.

Jackson Campus “Never Fully Utilized”

Board members unanimously approved the $5 million sale of the 3030 Jackson Campus to New Day Tennessee on the consent agenda.

According to board documents, the property includes a 6-story administration/lab building, a 2-story administration building attached to a large warehouse, another warehouse currently used for Nutrition Services dry food and IT/security operations, the former Bayer day-care center, a generator and maintenance building, two guard shacks, a fire pump building, and three parking lots. The district estimates that the entire campus would need more than $119 million in maintenance costs over the next decade, including $7 million in repairs this year just to meet fire codes.

New Day Tennessee plans to use the property to provide support for children aging out of the foster care system in Tennessee. According to board documents, approximately 800 children age out of foster care annually in Tennessee, and half of those have no family or foster parents to live with.  

The project will provide housing (with childcare), workforce training, employment, mental health care, and life skills training to these young adults.

The district purchased the Jackson Campus in 2018, but by the district’s own admission, never fully utilized it.

Following the decision, Board Member McKissack described the sale as correcting a wrong.

“We shouldn’t have bought it,” said McKissack.