The high school Elvis Presley graduated from will soon be home to Memphis’ first “freestanding arts and technology school.”
The Memphis Middle and High School for the Arts and Technology (MEMArtsTech) recently completed the purchase of the Humes Middle School. The school was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004 and closed in 2024.
“Humes is being transformed into a vibrant and inspiring place where love, hospitality, and God’s guidance will nurture the extraordinary talents of the remarkable children of North Memphis,” said Pastor Norman Redwing of Afrikan Village.
The sale was approved by the Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ Board of Education in September 2025. Though originally listed at $1.4 million, maintenance fees drove the cost to a reported $26 million.
Officials said the property was sold for $257,000, with an expected cost of $73 million to renovate the building.
The school will operate year-round as a public contract school for grades 6-12. Curriculum will be based on professional-level arts and technology training.
School officials said students will receive rigorous, high-quality academic instruction, mentorship from working artists and educators, and a supportive environment.
Admission will be based on artistic abilities and not academic achievement. Staff said this is to give opportunities to creative students who are “often overlooked in traditional school systems.”
“Graduates of MEMArtsTech will be prepared to enter competitive Bachelor of Fine Arts and collegiate programs, pursue pathways to viable creative-sector careers, and contribute to the cultural and economic future of Memphis,” officials said in a statement.
This work will be supported by a number of nonprofit partners through MEMArtsTech’s nonprofit fundraising partner, the New Arts Foundation. Katie Smythe, founder of New Ballet Ensemble and School, a fiscal sponsor of the New Arts Foundation, said they are excited to continue working on the “vital civic hub” for North Memphis.
“We know that right now, somewhere in Memphis, untold numbers of creative children are waiting on MEMArtsTech to help them find their voice,” Smythe said.
