Last verified: October 2026
Which incomes put a Memphis child in EFS Tier 2 or Tier 3?
Hold your income up to the USDA school-meal chart. At or under the reduced-price line puts a child in Tier 2; at or under three times that line, Tier 3. A four-person household hits those cutoffs at $61,050 and $183,150 on the chart dated July 1, 2026.
SNAP, TANF, or qualifying for the ESA or IEA also means Tier 2. Because TDOE measures against whatever chart is current on the day you file, rerun the numbers when the 2027-28 portal opens.
What is the ESA income limit for a family zoned to MSCS?
The ESA allows prior-year household income up to twice the federal free-lunch guideline: $85,800 for a family of four under the guidelines effective July 1, 2026.
The limit applies only to students zoned to Memphis-Shelby County Schools or a former Achievement School District school; families zoned to a municipal district or living in Tipton or Fayette cannot use the ESA.
| Is | Is not | |
|---|---|---|
| EFS Tier 2 or 3 | An earlier place in line when seats run short | A bigger award |
| ESA income limit | A firm eligibility cutoff | Available outside the MSCS zone |