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About

For more than 100 years, Memphis University School has provided Mid-South boys with unparalleled opportunities to develop intellectually, morally, socially, artistically, and physically, becoming leaders well-equipped to turn great ideas into action. Here, boys in Grades 7-12 find a top-tier academic program, small classes with individual attention, a school community centered on an Honor Code, extracurricular activities with opportunities for leadership, and a sense of belonging within a fellowship of common purpose.

Admissions

Come learn for yourself why there is no better school in the Mid-South for boys in Grades 7-12. We are committed to academic excellence, and we know how to teach boys. Nearly 70 percent of our teachers have advanced degrees, and they average 22 years of experience. We maintain a student-teacher ratio of 7 to 1, and a typical class size of 15. Step-by-step, our students learn to take responsibility for their actions, serve the community, and develop leadership skills as they make lifelong friendships.

Academics

The extraordinarily accomplished and dedicated faculty is our driving force, and providing boys an unparalleled college-preparatory education is our guiding principle. Since the school’s founding in 1893, we have upheld a tradition of excellence, and we stay on the cutting edge by keeping an eye on the future. What we teach is shaped by the expectations that colleges have for students they admit, and by what we believe we should pass on from generation to generation.

Arts

Understanding and appreciating the works of man’s creative spirit are necessary for a complete education. We offer students myriad opportunities for hands-on, full-fledged participation in performing, visual, and recording arts. Boys here have the chance to sculpt, to paint, to act, to sing, and to perform, and the whole community benefits from the creativity that they express.

“It is art that makes life, makes interest, makes importance … and I know of no substitute whatever for the force and beauty of its process.” - Henry James, 1915

Athletics

Sports have always played a significant role in shaping the moral character of our students. Teamwork, self-sacrifice, courage, stamina, perseverance, hard work, self-control - these values are forged in the crucible of competition. While we are extremely proud of our numerous athletic achievements, we realize these endeavors are never an end in themselves, but a powerful means to an end: self-knowledge and self-improvement for our boys. Our athletic program lives by the highest code of sportsmanship. We play hard, we play by the rules, and we have fun. At MUS, we always play the games well.

Student Life

A tradition of excellence remains vigorous here due to the commitment of the entire community - especially students. We encourage our boys to strive for excellence because that allows them to find meaning in what they do, to play a role in something greater than themselves, and to discover a sense of competence and thus confidence in themselves and in their abilities. If our academics, or our sports, or our arts, or our service and leadership opportunities do not challenge or engage boys, then they lack the capacity to transform boys. The struggle for excellence makes our experiences real. And boys need something real.

Owls Sports Through Dec. 3

The Owls next two weeks are jampacked with athletic contests as winter sports start to heat up. Tickets and Owls Sport Passes for home events can be purchased HERE. Live streams for home athletic contests can be found HERE. Not every game or match will be streamed.
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Thanksgiving Holiday: Nov. 23-25

The school will be closed November 23-25 in observance of Thanksgiving.
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All-West Orchestra Honors

Congratulations to all Owl musicians who auditioned for the All-West Tennessee Orchestras. They performed difficult musical excerpts and scales, and were required to sightread in front of a judge who is a professional musician and/or teacher.
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Eight Owls Honored at Model UN

Eight Owls earned awards at the 2022 YMCA Model UN Conference. Palmer Howie ’25 (representing Cambodia), Fletcher Taylor ’26 (Malawi), Amrik Chakravarty ’25 (Nepal), Alyaan Salman ’23 (Burkina Faso), Tyler Dang ’24 (West Africa), and Harrison Goetze ’24 (West Africa) were named Outstanding Delegates after presenting and debating potential solutions for world issues for the countries they represented.
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Schaeffer Bookstore Open House: Dec. 8

Stop by and let us help you find the perfect gifts for your Owls! Join us for our Holiday Open House on Thursday, December 8. Open from 8 a.m. until noon, the bookstore will offer new merchandise and complimentary gift wrapping.
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Best Selling Author Mark Greaney Chapel

Our chapel speaker today, Mr. Mark Greaney, didn’t have a conventional path to success, but his passion and resiliency led him to being a New York Times bestselling author and The Gray Man making it to Hollywood!
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Jerry Peters Turkey Shootout: Nov. 25-26

Basketball teams from across Shelby County will converge on Ross Lynn Arena on Friday, November 25, and Saturday, November 26, for the annual Jerry Peters Turkey Shootout.

The two-day event allows teams from the surrounding areas to showcase their skills while honoring a legendary head coach. Mr. Jerry Peters ended his 48-year career as the Owls head coach with 1,001 wins, which made him the winningest coach in Shelby Country history at the time of his retirement in 2012.

Tickets can be purchased HERE or at the door; adult tickets are $8 each while youth (ages 13 and under) tickets are $5. Owl Sports Passes and U Cards will not be accepted.
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Owls Host Memphis Symphony Orchestra Residency

A clarinet concert in Hyde Chapel November 16 was the culmination of a residency with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra clarinet quartet. President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Abell introduced the program, saying, “Music provides the soundtrack to your life as you live it.”
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Interested in Playing Tennis?

Any Owls interested in playing on the varsity tennis team should attend a meeting Monday, November 28, 3:30 p.m., in Dunavant-Wellford Tennis Center.
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New AEB Portrait Celebrates Coach T.

Family and friends honored Faculty Emeritus Bill Taylor at his Alumni Executive Board portrait unveiling November 15. Led by AEB President Ted Simpson ’85, the evening featured memorable tributes punctuated with humorous anecdotes from Bubba Halliday’82, Headmaster Emeritus Ellis Haguewood, and Headmaster Pete Sanders.
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Next CSO Food Distribution: Nov. 23

Civic Service Organization volunteers will distribute food for Mid-South Food Bank Wednesday, November 23, 8-10:30 am., in the Lower School parking lot. Students can park or be dropped off in the Rogers Field parking lot. We will have chicken biscuits and coffee for volunteers.
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Torrey Wins Honey Competition

Instructor in English Dax Torrey ’94 has always been a champion of grammar and sports statistics, and now he can add honey champ to his credits. At the Memphis Area Beekeepers Association’s November 14 meeting, he took home first prize in the most competitive category – light honey.
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Additional Practice ACT Available for Juniors

The College Counseling Office is partnering with Compass Education Group to offer a new, additional date for a free practice ACT for juniors. Testing will begin Saturday, November 19, at 8 a.m., in US Room 317. Those approved for extended time by ACT will have extended time on the practice ACT.

Juniors may opt to take the test at home on their own time if they come by the College Counseling Office and pick up the materials.
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Summer Fellowship Deadline: Feb. 21

MUS is honored to offer two fellowships to support rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in summer enrichment programs. Application deadline is February 21.
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“Twelfth Night” Auditions: Nov. 29-30

Auditions for the spring play, William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, will be in Hyde Chapel Tuesday, November 29, at 6 p.m., and Wednesday, November 30, at 3 p.m. Students are not required to bring monologues, but they should come prepared to read and perform Shakespearean language. Auditions are open to MUS boys and girls from all surrounding schools. If you have questions, contact Mr. Jeffrey Posson.
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Monologue Competition: Feb. 2

Anyone interested in participating in The English-Speaking Union’s Shakespeare Monologue Competition should contact Mr. Jeffrey Posson. The school competition will be in mid-January.
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Get Your All-Sports Passes

The price of all-sports passes (Owl Passes) are now reduced! Offering admission to all regular-season home games during the remainder of the year, an Owl Pass now costs $60. All MUS students are admitted to regular-season home games free of charge when they present their U Cards.
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Observing Veterans Day

MUS honors all veterans of the United States Armed Forces. Thank you for your service and sacrifice!
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Third Manhood Breakfast: Learning about Girls

The Manhood Breakfast series for Lower School continued November 11 with Lacrosse Head Coach Joe Cummings and his wife, Mrs. Sarah Cummings, discussing the mysterious topic on every boy’s mind – girls.
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Clifft Receives Hubert Smothers Award

Mathematics Department Co-Chair Darin Clifft received a Hubert Smothers Award at the Tennessee Association of Independent Schools award ceremony November 6. The award was presented to four educators who have displayed a deep commitment to the teaching profession.
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