Going New School

The 448 sixth- through ninth-grade students at Memphis Rise Academy, a charter school in Memphis, Tenn., don’t come from privileged backgrounds. Nearly 90 percent of students qualify for the free or reduced lunch program, and their annual family incomes rarely top $40,000.

These students see an education at Memphis Rise as the key to their future success, committing themselves to a rigorous academic program and thriving in an environment where hard work and achievement are celebrated. The results are impressive. Memphis Rise ranks among the top 5 percent of schools in Tennessee in terms of end-of-year testing.

Memphis Rise achieved that remarkable success in a hand-me-down building and a group of modular classrooms. When Memphis Rise began planning the construction of a new high school that would match the caliber of its programming, the school’s administration appealed to HOPE for help in making the facility a reality.

“We purchased the land for the building in March of 2016, with the ambitious goal of moving into the completed building in August of 2017,” says Jack Vuylsteke, Memphis Rise Academy’s founder and head of school. “We were working with a national lender, but it was a slow process.”

When the glacial pace of the paperwork threatened to delay construction, Vuylsteke called on HOPE to provide needed financing.

The new high school opened its doors just in time for the 2017 school year. “We would not have opened the building on time without HOPE,” Vuylsteke says.

The new building’s bright classrooms offer a stimulating backdrop for challenging courses. A well-equipped science lab and art studio encourage hands-on participation, and the building offers ample space for school assemblies and performances.

“This building gives Memphis Rise a sense of permanence and viability for the long term,” Vuylsteke says. “Our students and families see the building as an investment in them. In fact, the building’s cornerstone is inscribed with a dedication to the founding families of the school. The new building has also helped define our investment in the community. We are planting a flag in this neighborhood where our families live.”

Memphis Rise ninth-grader DeMarcus Brooks’ plans include becoming a zoologist, traveling the world, and helping other people realize their dreams. Brooks hopes to attend college at Duke, Notre Dame, or the University of Alabama, and he’s confident that with a Memphis Rise education, he’ll get there. Attending the opening ceremonies for the new high school only added to Brooks’ pride in his school.

“I remember thinking, ‘This is going to be my building,’” Brooks says. “I’m going to get to go from my first high school class to my last high school class in this building that has everything I need to get a good education. My classmates and I are proud that Memphis Rise is our school and that this is our building.”

Brooks pauses, then adds one more item to his bucket list.

“You know, Mr. Vuylsteke and some other people worked hard together to build this great school for kids. Someday, I’d like to do that, too.”