Last verified: October 2026
Which Memphis-area private schools focus on learning differences?
Bowie Reading and Learning Center and Concord Academy in East Memphis, The Bodine School in Germantown, Madonna Learning Center in Germantown and Beyond the Spectrum in Memphis are among the schools built around learning needs; St. Benedict at Auburndale also runs a PLUS program for students with learning differences. The directory's hub lists 15 schools and programs in all.
Bodine, Bowie, Concord, Madonna and Beyond the Spectrum are all on the 2026-27 EFS list; Bodine, Concord and Beyond the Spectrum are also on the ESA list.
Should a Memphis child with an IEP use the IEA, EFS or the ESA?
Dollar for dollar the IEA usually wins for a child with a covered IEP, since special-education money rides on top of the base amount. It also reaches Category IV and V schools and homeschooling.
In the MSCS zone the ESA is still worth pricing out, and EFS fits when the IEP lapsed or the IEA window was missed; IEA-eligible students land in EFS Tier 2. Under the ESA and EFS handbooks, accepting either one means the public school IEP no longer applies while the student participates.
What does a Memphis student need to qualify for the IEA?
The student needs an active, implemented Tennessee IEP listing an eligible disability when the IEA window closes, plus an enrollment condition such as a prior year in Tennessee public school or entry to kindergarten. There is no income test.
The 2027-28 window is projected to run February 16 to April 16, 2027.
Will a Memphis private school follow my child's public school IEP?
Do not assume so. The IEP is a district document, and once your child takes IEA, ESA or EFS money the district is no longer the one carrying it out. Ask the school, in writing, what supports it will provide and what they cost.
St. Benedict's PLUS program, for example, costs $19,025 in 2026-27 versus $17,880 for its traditional program.
| IEA | EFS | ESA (MSCS zone) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IEP required | Yes | No | No |
| Funding | Base plus special-ed average | $7,530 | $10,132.54 |
| Homeschool | Allowed | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Category IV/V schools | Allowed | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Public-school IEP | Ends with public enrollment | Not in effect while enrolled | Not in effect while enrolled |
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.