School back in session across Shelby County

Published: Aug. 8, 2022 at 5:00 AM CDT|Updated: Aug. 8, 2022 at 7:09 AM CDT

SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. (WMC) - Hundreds of thousands of students are heading back into the classroom this week.

All Shelby County municipal school districts head to class Monday, including Tennessee’s largest district, Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

One parent said, “They’re ready for school. They had a good breakfast.”

Expect teachers and staff out here cheering kids on as they enter into the school for the first time this school year.

“We want them to know that they are going to have a great school year. We are here to support them in their efforts,” said Sunya Payne, Director of Family and Community Engagement MSCS.

The board of education held an immunization fair for MSCS students.

Students must have the required shots and physicals to start school.

Strict COVID-19 protocols are not in place at MSCS this year; state law prohibits COVID-19 vaccinations from being mandatory.

Tennessee Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn visited Germantown High School Monday on students’ first day.

A law passed last General Assembly could send that school along with Germantown elementary and middle back to the Germantown Municipal School District, forcing MSCS to spend tens of millions of dollars to build new schools to accommodate students who would not be able to attend the Germantown district.

Monday Schwinn said she is impressed with what she saw in class.

“The collegiate atmosphere was wonderful. It was academic instruction on day one,” said Schwinn

Schwinn says she’s also encouraged with third grade performance improvements in the district.

The latest TCAP scores showed MSCS third through fifth graders had an 8% increase in math and nine point increase in English.

Schwinn complimented the district’s strategic literacy plan.

“That’s the kind of work you want to see and I’m very excited with what their trends are showing,” said Schwinn.

“The support we have in place is our after school program, we do have tutoring programs. So we want to make sure our students take advantage of that. We also have the homework hotline,” said Payne.

While obstacles and unknowns are certain for any school year, leaders here hope the echos of this support will bring the kids to the finish line.

SCSK12.org/BACKTOSCHOOL has everything you need to know about your child’s school including bell times and bus routes.

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