An expansion in the North Memphis community hopes to restore education as a staple in local neighborhoods.
Schools of Perea, located at 1250 Vollintine Avenue, announced the addition of a seventh grade class. The school, located in the historic Klondike/Smokey City neighborhood, increased their capacity from 305 students to 507 with this move. The non-profit charter school hopes to add an 8th grade by 2028.
The building previously served as Klondike Elementary. Schools of Perea recently earned a Level 5 award from the state, which is the highest school ranking.
Memphis Shelby County Schools approved the expansion, and school officials said this would provide “more enrollment opportunities for North Memphis families.”
“Twenty-seven years ago, Schools of Perea opened its preschool with a bold promise to build a new education ecosystem that would restore the neighborhood school as the true nucleus of the community,” school officials said.
As they invite more families to enroll, the school touts a holistic approach, offering academic, emotional, social, and physical support. This curriculum starts with Perea Preschool and matriculates through middle school.
“For Schools of Perea, community engagement is especially important because our mission extends beyond educating students, we exist to strengthen families and transform the North Memphis community,” said Robert Davis, executive director for Schools of Perea.
Davis said they intentionally engage in partnerships with entities such as Alliance Healthcare and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) to amplify their “Whole-Child Development and Learning Model.” The director said this not only helps students, but their families as well.
In addition to working with other organizations, Schools of Perea brings academic workshops, exposure to STEM, fine arts, and technical education, and leadership development. Students have the opportunity to work with new technology and build skills to adapt to an ever-changing workforce.
“This collaborative approach not only improves academic outcomes but also changes the trajectory of children’s lives, empowers families, and contributes to a stronger, healthier, and more vibrant community for generations to come,” Davis said.
These partnerships also help students to overcome systemic barriers such as poverty, access to healthcare, food insecurity, and “inequitable educational opportunities.”
“By addressing barriers proactively, we help students build the confidence and resilience needed to overcome adversity throughout their lives,” Davis said.
