Memphis University School
Christian Brothers High School (Upper School)
(Lower School) | |
Accreditation | Southern Association of Independent Schools |
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Tuition | $24,500 |
Website | www.musowls.org |
Newspaper | The Owl's Hoot |
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Yearbook | The Owl |
Literary Magazine | The MUSe |
Alumni Magazine | MUS Today |
Student Life Magazine | Inside MUS |
Memphis University School (MUS) is a college-preparatory, independent, day school for boys, grades 6–12, located in Memphis, Tennessee.[1]
History
Original campus (1893–1936)
Edwin Sidney Werts and James White Sheffey Rhea founded MUS as a
Current campus (1955–present)
The economic boom of the 1950s revitalized MUS, and classes began again in 1955 under the leadership of Col. Ross M. Lynn and a dedicated Board of Trustees chaired by Alexander Wellford.
In the 1970s, the school added the Hull Lower School, the Hyde Library, the Fisher Fine Arts Wing, and the McCaughan Science building, fulfilling the school's basic physical plant needs. Ellis Haguewood began his irreverent and hilarious school day picture day (SDPD) talks and served a 16-year stint as yearbook adviser. The school's academics became stronger in a climate of increased diversity. Both faculty and curriculum grew much stronger through the 1970s and the 1980s, and enrollment reached nearly 600 students.
In 1990, the school constructed the Sue H. Hyde Sports and Physical Education Center, symbolizing that it had become as much an athletic as an academic powerhouse. Thorn retired in 1992, and William Campbell succeeded Thorn as headmaster for three years. In 1995 the Board of Trustees selected Upper School principal Ellis Haguewood to lead the school.
Under the leadership of Headmaster Haguewood and Chairman of the Board Ben Adams (1996-2004), MUS implemented a long-term strategic plan. This included a master plan for expanding and updating the physical plant and a massive capital campaign (more than $21 million total) to fund improvements. The Crump Firm's master plan included a new tennis center with a clubhouse, renovation and expansion of the Hull Lower School, erecting a commodious new Campus Center, and razing and replacing the Upper School and the Clack Dining Hall. Construction, including the new Dunavant Upper School, was completed by January 2003. Alumnus Trow Gillespie, who had spearheaded the fundraising, replaced Ben Adams in 2004 as chairman of the Board of Trustees. Bob Loeb became chairman in 2008, followed by Sam Graham in 2013, and Jim Burnett in 2020.[4]
Ellis Haguewood retired in June 2017 after 48 years at the school, including 22 as headmaster. The Board of Trustees selected Pete Sanders from Greenville, South Carolina, as the new headmaster. In February 2021 the school announced a new strategic plan, Legacy Forward, with six strategic goals guided by 12 implementation champions representing the Board and the school. In December 2023 the school opened admissions to include an inaugural Grade 6. [5]
Academics
MUS enrolls about 650 students from grades 6-12. The student-faculty ratio is 7 to 1, and average class size is 15 students.
The school’s intensive academic program emphasizes Advanced Placement and Honors Accelerated courses, offering 22 AP courses for college credit. Historically, more than 90 percent of MUS students score a 3 or above on their AP exams. MUS grades are weighted on a 4.0 scale. Every year a large portion of MUS students are honored by College Board for their performance on standardized tests. MUS claims a 100 percent four-year college acceptance rate.
Faculty
For the 2020-21 school year, the faculty includes 99 teachers, three college counselors, and three guidance counselors. Seventy percent of faculty hold master's degrees or doctorates. Average teaching experience for faculty is 25 years. MUS maintains endowed teaching chairs for its faculty.
Notable alumni
- Nash Buckingham, 1898, Author
- Richard Halliburton, 1915, Author, adventurer
- Morgan Keegan & Company
- Autozone
- Frederick W. Smith '62, Founder, CEO of FedEx
- John Fry '62, Founder of Ardent Studios
- Admiral Charles H. Johnston '66, United States Navy
- Michael Beck '67, Actor
- Michael O'Brien '68, photographer
- Big Star
- Andy Hummel '69, Musician, member of Big Star
- Paul Tudor Jones '72, Hedge Fund Manager
- Hampton Sides '80, Author, Ghost Soldiers, Blood and Thunder
- Time Magazine
- John H. Dobbs '85, businessman[7]
- Griff Jenkins '89, radio producer and Fox News television personality[8]
- Thank You for Smoking
- NFLpunter
- Siddharth Kara '92, Writer, expert on human trafficking
- Henry Gayden '98, Screenwriter - Known for his writing in Earth to Echo (2014), Shazam! (2019) and There's Someone Inside Your House (2020)
- Hank Sullivant '01, Musician, frontman for Kuroma, past bassist for The Whigs, touring guitarist for MGMT
- Harry Ford, Actor, star of CBS TV series, Code Black
- Harrison Williams '14, Decathlete[9]
References
- ^ https://www.musowls.org/Grade-6
- ^ "Memphis University School". The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
- ^ Harkins, John E. (1993). Dr. Little Rock, AR: August House. p. 88.
- ^ "Learn more about MUS faculty".
- ^ "MUS | Strategic Plan".
- ^ "The School for Boys in Grades 6-12".
- ^ "John Hull Dobbs, Jr. 2011 King of Carnival" (PDF). carnivalmemphis.org. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ "MUS Today". March 2007. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
- ^ Varlas, John. "Former MUS decathlon star Harrison Williams gearing up for a big summer". The Commercial Appeal.