Last verified: October 2026
What is the first funding step for a Memphis private school family?
Pick your state lane first. MSCS-zoned and under the income line means the $10,132.54 ESA; everyone else starts with the $7,530 EFS; a covered IEP opens the IEA. File even when you are not sure, since school aid offices and MOST both ask what you applied for.
Choose schools with the program in mind. A Category IV-only school cannot take EFS or ESA money.
How does MOST fit with the state programs in Shelby County?
The Memphis Opportunity Scholarship Trust adds partial, need-based scholarships at about 42 partner schools, and its 2026-27 forms ask families about their ESA and EFS status. New students enter through MOST's February lottery application.
Because MOST serves Shelby County, Tipton and Fayette families usually rely on school aid instead.
What if tuition is less than the Education Freedom Scholarship?
When tuition and required fees come in under the award, the rest of the EFS balance can go to textbooks, uniforms at the enrolled school, approved tutoring and academic programs, licensed therapies, bus-company transportation and educational technology. Unused money rolls into the next year while the student stays in the program.
The Marketplace stops taking technology and uniform orders April 30, 2027.
Where does help come from before kindergarten in Memphis?
MSCS Pre-K takes applications year-round for three- and four-year-olds, and TDHS Smart Steps helps working parents pay for licensed care from six weeks through kindergarten. Neither program is part of EFS or the ESA.
From 2027, the federal scholarship tax credit may add a further layer for K-12 families.
| Layer | What it is | What it isn't |
|---|---|---|
| State program (EFS, ESA or IEA) | A set or formula amount paid toward approved schooling | Usable at every school |
| MOST | Private, need-based scholarships at partner schools | A fixed or guaranteed award |
| School aid | The school's own need-based grants and discounts | The same from school to school |
| Federal tax credit (2027) | SGO scholarships for households up to 300% of AMI | Open to Tennessee applicants yet |
What is the next step for a Memphis family?
Spend two minutes on the funding check, and a counselor will call back with the program that fits, its dollar value and the next deadline.