Independent & Secular Schools in Midtown, Downtown, North & South Memphis
9 independent & secular schools in Midtown, Downtown, North & South Memphis: 4 registered for EFS and 5 approved for the ESA. The urban core between the river and Highland Street: an Episcopal parish day school, a boys' K-6 on Poplar, Montessori and lab schools, small church academies and the largest homeschool umbrella program in West Tennessee.
Funding note: Independent schools register on the same terms as faith schools, and the area's best-known secular prep schools are on the 2026-27 EFS list. Mostly zoned to Memphis-Shelby County Schools, so income-eligible students can usually use the ESA.
| School | Type | Community | Grades | TN category | EFS 2026-27 | ESA (West TN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Class Montessori 1336 Peabody Ave, Memphis 38104 | Independent & Secular Schools | Midtown, Downtown, North & South Memphis | PK-2 | — | Not listed | — |
| Creative Life Preparatory School 1222 Riverside Blvd, Memphis 38106 | Independent & Secular Schools | Midtown, Downtown, North & South Memphis | K-12 | II, IV | ✓ EFS | ✓ ESA |
| Harmony Independent Schools 1082 Berclair Road, Memphis 38122 | Independent & Secular Schools | Midtown, Downtown, North & South Memphis | PK-12 | III | ✓ EFS | ✓ ESA |
| Lipman Early Learning & Research Center (University of Memphis) 3771 Poplar Avenue, Memphis 38111 | Independent & Secular Schools | Midtown, Downtown, North & South Memphis | PK-K | V | Not listed | — |
| Maria Montessori School 740 Harbor Bend Rd, Memphis 38103 | Independent & Secular Schools | Midtown, Downtown, North & South Memphis | PK-8 | V | Not listed | — |
| Midtown Montessori School 1430 Poplar Ave, Memphis 38104 | Independent & Secular Schools | Midtown, Downtown, North & South Memphis | PK-6 | — | Not listed | — |
| Miraaj Academy - Sacred Seeds School 594 N 2nd Street, Memphis 38105 | Independent & Secular Schools | Midtown, Downtown, North & South Memphis | K-5 | III | Not listed | ✓ ESA |
| PURE Academy 3925 Chelsea Ave Ext., Memphis 38108 | Independent & Secular Schools | Midtown, Downtown, North & South Memphis | 9-12 | I | ✓ EFS | ✓ ESA |
| The Lab School of Memphis 1738 Galloway Ave., Memphis 38112 | Independent & Secular Schools | Midtown, Downtown, North & South Memphis | PK-9 | III | ✓ EFS | ✓ ESA |
| Flag | Means | Does not mean |
|---|---|---|
| EFS ✓ | The $7,530 EFS can pay here in 2026-27 | A seat or a set tuition |
| ESA ✓ | Approved for MSCS-zone ESA students | Open to students zoned to a municipal district |
| Category IV/V | Approved by Tennessee to operate | Eligible for EFS or the ESA |
All schools in Midtown, Downtown, North & South Memphis All independent & secular schools
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