What to know about school voucher programs available for Memphis students

Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarship Program (EFS) expanded access to private school vouchers in its second year, awarding 35,000 scholarship seats for the 2026–27 school year after receiving over 50,000 applications. The program prioritized returning students, awarding 18,553 vouchers to those who received them in 2025–26. Income-based eligibility followed, with 3,970 vouchers given to families earning at or below 100% of the federal free or reduced-price lunch threshold ($57,720/year for a household of four), and 9,360 awarded to families earning up to $173,160/year. The remaining 3,117 vouchers were distributed to other eligible applicants. In Memphis and Shelby County, over 50 private schools accept at least one type of voucher, including the EFS and Education Savings Account (ESA) programs. Only 12 schools in the area fully cover tuition for eligible students through these vouchers, with average private school tuition reaching $16,000 annually. The EFS program, launched in early 2025, is Tennessee’s first universal voucher initiative, allowing all students to apply without income restrictions. The ESA program, designed for low-income students in the Achievement School District and select counties, remains available alongside the EFS. Additionally, the Individualized Education Account provides vouchers for students with disabilities to attend private schools or participate in homeschooling. The expansion of these programs reflects growing interest in private education funding across Tennessee. The first EFS application period saw nearly 43,000 applications for the 2025–26 school year, demonstrating high demand. While the program initially reserved half its vouchers for low-income students, the second year shifted focus to returning applicants and broader eligibility tiers. The state’s push for private school vouchers continues to reshape the education landscape in Memphis and beyond.