Saved Schools

The Lab School of Memphis

The Lab School of Memphis, nominated by an anonymous organization, is an elementary/middle school in Memphis, Tennessee that describes itself as a independent (private) school serving learners from a primarily urban area.

Location Memphis, Tennessee

Governance Independent (private) school

Grades Prekindergarten, Elementary, Middle

Students 36

Locale Urban

founder Coi Morefield

Demographics

Percentage of students*

English Learners

31%

Free/Reduced Lunch

30%

Students with Disabilities

African American or Black

American Indian/Alaska Native

Asian

Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Hispanic or Latino

White

2+ Races

Why The Lab School of Memphis was nominated

The Lab School of Memphis is a micro-school dedicated to affirming practices for all students. The environment is student-led and centers the ability of every child to learn when given access to freedom, opportunities to explore, new experiences and affirming guides.

Student experience design

Since its inception in 2021, The Lab School of Memphis has offered a learning environment focused on fostering educational innovation and opportunity. As a non-profit education startup, we seek to advance a model of education where learning thrives everywhere, not just in school; where young people and their families are empowered to shape their own educational journeys; and where entire communities contribute to the education of their young people. In 2023, in collaboration with families and community partners, we launched New School Learning to reimagine middle school with offerings that are relevant, experiential, and open-walled. We partner with out-of-school organizations to develop capacity and resources to imagine greater educational possibilities and programming that is learner-centered, empowers youth voice, and fosters choice and agency. We collaborate with universities and community organizations to research best practices for hybrid and community-based learning that can inform and influence what happens in all schools.

Core Practices

Core Practices Length of Use

Career Prep And Work-based Learning

less than a year

Community And Business Partnerships

3-4 years

Multi-age Classrooms

3-4 years

Project-based Learning

3-4 years

Place-based Learning

3-4 years

All Practices

Anti-racist Practices

Assessments For Agency And Self-directed Learning

Assessments For Social-emotional Skills

Blended Learning

Competency/mastery-based Education

Competency Framework

Culturally Responsive Practices

Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles

Grading Policies Focus On Mastery

All Courses Designed For Inclusion

Interdisciplinary

Individual Learning Paths

Multiple Opportunities To Demonstrate Mastery

Peer To Peer Support

Performance Based Assessment

Restorative Practices

SEL Integration School-wide

Social Justice Focus

Student-led Conferences

Students Access Their Own Data

Self-paced Learning

Students Develop Projects

Tutoring

key reasons for innovating

External catalyst events

Date Updated: 4/1/2024

*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.