TL;DR: A Memphis family paying for 2027-28 private school usually needs a state program (EFS or the ESA), the school's own FACTS aid and, in Shelby County, a MOST application. The windows overlap from November to April, and several schools and MOST ask whether you applied for the state programs, so file early and file everything you qualify for.
What should a Memphis family file first for 2027-28?
Start with the school's need-based aid, because it opens first. St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School, for example, opens FACTS aid on November 1, 2026, with returning families due December 1 and new families February 1, 2027. St. Benedict at Auburndale also uses FACTS and asks families to enroll there for payments.
While that is open, gather the documents the state programs need: proof of Tennessee residency (two documents for EFS), proof of citizenship or lawful presence, and last year's income records if you are aiming for the ESA or a priority tier.
When do the state programs open?
EFS dates for 2027-28 had not been posted as of late October. Last cycle, renewals began December 9, 2025, new families could start January 13, 2026, and everything closed January 30, 2026, with seats handed out by priority group and then by arrival time. Expect something similar and be ready by December.
The ESA, for MSCS-zone children only, runs February 2 to April 15, 2027. The IEA, for children with a covered IEP, is projected for February 16 to April 16, 2027.
| When | What | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2026 | FACTS aid opens at St. Agnes-St. Dominic (others vary) | Families applying to that school |
| Dec-Jan (expected) | EFS 2027-28 application (dates not yet announced) | Any eligible Tennessee student |
| Feb 1-28, 2027 | MOST new-student and lottery application | Shelby County families |
| Feb 2 - Apr 15, 2027 | ESA application | Income-eligible MSCS-zone students |
| Feb 10 - Apr 21, 2027 | MOST requalification | Current MOST scholars |
| Feb 16 - Apr 16, 2027 (projected) | IEA application | Students with a covered IEP |
Where does MOST fit in a Memphis tuition plan?
The Memphis Opportunity Scholarship Trust is a private Shelby County nonprofit that gives partial, need-based scholarships at about 42 partner schools. New students enter through a lottery application that MOST lists for February, families drawn must submit paperwork by April 21, and awards for the coming year are announced at the end of July.
MOST's 2026-27 requalification form asks families whether they applied for the ESA and EFS, and it requires them to apply for their school's own aid when the school offers it. In other words, MOST expects to be one layer among several, not the first dollar.
State award vs school aid: which one counts first?
In practice, the state award. Tennessee's programs pay tuition and required fees before anything else, and school aid offices usually size their grant to the balance left after the award. That is why a family that skips EFS or the ESA can end up with less school aid, not more.
Here is how it looks with a published price. St. Benedict at Auburndale lists $17,880 for its 2026-27 traditional program. EFS at $7,530 leaves $10,350; the MSCS-zone ESA leaves about $7,747. FACTS aid, a $200 sibling discount and, for a Shelby County family, MOST are the remaining pieces.
How should a Fayette or Tipton family change the plan?
Drop two layers and lean on the rest. Families in Fayette and Tipton counties are outside the MSCS zone, so the ESA is off the table, and MOST describes its scholarships as serving Shelby County families. That leaves EFS, the IEA for a child with a covered IEP, and the school's own aid.
EFS priority tiers matter more as a result. For a family of four on the July 1, 2026 school-meal chart, income at or under $61,050 places a child in Priority 2, and income at or under $183,150 places a child in Priority 3; both are processed ahead of families with higher incomes. Within each group, the earliest complete applications are served first, so a December document folder is the best tool a rural family has.
The schools on the EFS list in those counties, including Fayette Academy, Fayette Christian, Rossville Christian and Tipton Christian, each set their own aid process. Ask in November when their windows open, and ask whether they expect you to apply for EFS first.
What a Memphis tuition plan is not
It is not a promise of any amount. EFS seats can run out, MOST uses a lottery, and school aid budgets are finite. It is also not a single application: each program has its own portal and its own documents. A good plan is simply a calendar, a folder of documents and a list of every source you could qualify for.
Frequently asked questions
What should a Memphis family file first for 2027-28?
The school's own FACTS aid usually opens first, in November, so start there and gather state-program documents at the same time.
When do the state programs open?
EFS dates are not yet posted; the ESA runs February 2 to April 15, 2027, and the IEA is projected for February 16 to April 16, 2027.
Where does MOST fit in a Memphis tuition plan?
MOST adds partial, need-based help at partner schools for Shelby County families, through a February lottery application.
State award vs school aid: which one counts first?
The state award usually counts first, because Tennessee's programs pay tuition before anything else and school aid offices size their grants to whatever balance remains.
How should a Fayette or Tipton family change the plan?
Without the ESA or MOST, those families rely on EFS, the IEA where an IEP applies, and each school's own aid, so an early, complete EFS application matters most.
Related questions
- Every Memphis funding date in order
- MOST details
- How to pay for private school in Memphis
- Worked examples after the award
Sources
- MOST — Dates and deadlines
- St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School — Affording SAA-SDS
- St. Benedict at Auburndale — Tuition & Fees
- TDOE — Education Savings Account Program
- TDOE — 2026-27 EFS Family Handbook
See which programs fit your child →
