Admissions Policy: 

MAHS High School is a publicly funded charter school serving students residing in the Memphis and Shelby County area of Tennessee, with a specific focus on students residing in the north Memphis community where the school site is located. MAHS will accept eligible students from outside its primary zone to the extent required by law and to the extent space is available for such students.

 

MAHS’ targeted population consists of all students in the Memphis and Shelby County (county students must pay tuition) area who attend High Priority schools as determined by the NCLB accountability system, or students who scored below proficient in Reading English Language Arts or Mathematics on the previous year’s TCAP exams.

MAHS is open to all eligible students on a space available basis and does not discriminate in its admission policy or practice on the basis of race, intellectual or athletic ability, measures of achievement and aptitude, status as a handicapped person, or proficiency in English.

 

As required by law, admissions preference is granted to students who are residents of the Memphis and Shelby County community. As part of the application process, MAHS requests that parents/guardians of new students participate in a half-day orientation session at the school. The purpose of the session is to help parents make an informed choice for their child. Transportation, a translator, or other services are provided to parents who make such requests in order to participate in the information sessions. Attendance at an information session is recommended, but is not mandatory. MAHS will seek to enroll, to the greatest degree possible, a cross-section of the local school-age population by promoting the school heavily in the entire community.

 

To be eligible for admission, parents must provide 1) proof of residence in the Memphis and Shelby County Community or proof of eligible non-resident status for space available consideration; and 2) most recent TCAP and a report card, and 3) a completed application form.

 

Selection Process

If the number of applicants exceeds the school's enrollment cap, students will be placed on a waiting list. As students leave MAHS, replacements will be chosen from the waiting list on a first come, first serve basis.

 

Parent/guardians will be notified by mail or by telephone of each child's admission status, and will have fourteen (14) calendar days after the postmarked date on the notification or the date of the phone call to return a signed enrollment registration card for each child offered enrollment, or signed waiting-list applicant card for wait-listed children. If no form is returned within fourteen days, MAHS will make three attempts to contact the family before the fourteen day deadline. If no form has been returned by the two-week deadline, the child's admission space or waiting-list order will be given to the next eligible candidate. Parents who will not be available at the home address listed on the application form during the notification period should contact MAHS to make alternate arrangements.

 

As provided in the Charter School Law, all parents who choose to enroll their children in MAHS may do so, subject to admissions priorities established in statute and spaces available. To inform these parents of the decision-making process, MAHS will widely publicize the nature and mission of the school using radio and television venues. In addition, to promote a diverse applicant pool, MAHS will post notices on church and neighborhood bulletin boards and will arrange informational meetings through church and community leaders. Our publicity efforts will also include Spanish-language literature and meetings to explain the nature and purpose of the school and the admissions process.

 

Nonresident Student Enrollment

Students from other localities may apply to the school as non-residents on a space available basis. Non-resident tuition will be determined as prescribed by statute and regulation.