Who We Are

Mission

The mission of the Memphis Business Academy is to ensure high academic achievement of students from the Frayser/Raleigh area and to help them to develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that will enable them to be successful in school and beyond. The Academy is dedicated to the high quality teaching of mathematics, science, social studies, and language arts with a focus on business, entrepreneurship, and financial responsibility. Through the implementation of innovative and effective instructional models, the school will meet state and national standards while developing independent and critical thinkers who possess the communication skills and quantitative literacy necessary to be successful in a high-tech, global society.

Seasons of Success

“My SOS stands for my Seasons of Success” 

Within my seasons are elements of truth.
I have to be committed to everything I render.
I must be persistent because I can never surrender.
My character must go a long way in this race.
And honesty will always keep me from any type of disgrace.
I must be dependable because others will count on me.
I must be reliable as the roots of a 1,000 year old tree.

We lack responsibility in many of our hearts.
But we will be tenacious and reverse those negative charts.
I believe in service and for this I am proud.
I will offer hope to the masses and the crowds.
When no one has a vision, I will step forward with ease.
For I am a Leader! And Leaders must lead!

This is my Seasons of Success,
now watch me take care of business and do my very best!

History

Memphis Business Academy began in 2005 as the vision of Reverend Anthony Anderson. From the beginning the focus was to give the children in the Frayser area a unique experience and all the opportunities they needed to be successful not only in school but in life. MBA infuses subjects related to business, and economics, and financial literacy into the core curriculum of Memphis Shelby County Schools. The aim is to relate concepts of the business world into their academic learning so that students can build a better future for themselves. We hope to develop leaders from our “young executives” who will one day give back to the communities in which they live.

Memphis Business Academy (MBA) was founded in 2005 by Rev. Anthony Anderson and Dr. Celia Anderson.  MBA, home of the proud Executives, is a Prek-12 school system that includes 6 schools: Memphis Business Academy Elementary, Middle, and High; Memphis Stem Academy; and Memphis Business Academy Hickory Hill Elementary and Middle Schools, all of which are located in the Frayser, Berclair, and Hickory Hill areas. Since 2005, MBA has grown from serving 68 students to over 1, 700.  MBA started with a staff of seven people and now employs more than 170 educators. 

The primary mission of the schools within the MBA network has been to promote high levels of academic achievement and to help students develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that will enable them to be successful at the next level of K-12 schooling and beyond. 

Our Academies are dedicated to the high-quality teaching of mathematics, science, social studies, and language arts with a focus on business, entrepreneurship, and STEM. Through the implementation of innovative and effective instructional models, our schools will meet state and national standards while developing independent and critical thinkers who possess the communication skills and quantitative literacy necessary to be successful in a high-tech, global society!

Our network offers a variety of extracurricular activities to its Executives such from Basketball, Cross Country, and Golf, to Soccer, Track and Field, and Volleyball. 

Our coaches focus on fitness, strategy, and teamwork to prepare Execs for competitive play.  All levels—elementary, middle, and high school—participate in sports, and there are teams for both our ladies and young men. 

Memphis Business Academy is the largest investor in the community of Frayser, outside of Nike.  In 2009, MBA purchased the 88,000-square-foot former Kmart building at 3306 Overton Crossing, which is home to Memphis Business Academy Middle and High Schools.  In 2014, the annex was built which is an outstanding addition to our main campus, showcasing our state-of-the-art gymnasium, classrooms, and science lab.  In 2015, the old Macon Road Baptist Church became the new home of the Memphis Business Academy Elementary.  This move allowed us to expand access to business and STEM education to the Berclair area.  In 2020, MBA purchased and renovated a mostly vacant Frayser shopping center.  This $15 million project which transformed the space into our Harmony Plaza, is now the new home to Memphis STEM Academy.  The school occupies 60,000 square feet of the 100,000-square-foot center. The center will continue to be home to its current tenants, such as Family Dollar and H&R Block, and the school has plans to add a small business incubator, sit-down restaurant, and health care clinic. 

 

Education with Exceptional Value

We strive to have each student learn and prosper in a supportive atmosphere. Our highly qualified teachers create an enthusiastic environment where learning is motivating, stimulating, and innovative. By implementing practical business concepts, we expose students to a variety of learning experiences, helping to develop well-rounded individuals.

Our students enjoy activities such as business-related field trips, projects involving student entrepreneurship, and Friday business assemblies where they have opportunities to interact with local business leaders, parents, and generous school sponsors. The goals of MBA are to provide our students with a strong foundation, so they are equipped to confidently handle the demands of a challenging high school program, college, and beyond.

Moving in the Right Direction

Since Memphis Business Academy was created in 2005, we have focused on making a difference with children in the Memphis area. What makes the learning experience at MBA unique is our ability to infuse subjects related to business, economics, and financial literacy into the core curriculum of Shelby County Schools. Our belief is that by relating academic subjects to the business world, we will help our students build a better future and encourage our “young executives” to one day help support the economic well-being of our community.

Our Greatest Asset

We believe our community’s greatest asset is our children. At MBA, this means investing in our students’ learning, care, guidance, and economic future. To ensure that our students have the support needed to be successful in school and beyond, we seek to build and expand relationships with community partners. We are privileged to have the opportunity to shape the lives of these extraordinary young individuals, and our success in that effort depends upon the involvement of the local community.

Our Future
Charter schools rely on state and local financial support. MBA’s continued success is also dependent upon the generosity of individual donors and corporate sponsorships. In the interest of our students, MBA is committed to keeping class sizes small, and we take great pride in our low teacher-student ratio (1:20). Funding is needed to ensure that we are not forced to increase enrollment (and class size) to meet financial needs. We also rely on non-monetary assistance and require help in a variety of capacities.

 

Academic Norms

Memphis Business Academy School is a K-12 college preparatory school. Our goal is to prepare students for college, as well as to develop lifelong learners. We promote academic rigor, in-depth study, challenging coursework, and a range of study that compliments a variety of student interests. Our college preparatory curriculum is filled with honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classes and allows for the individual progression of our Executives’ talents and interests. Our education program is structured so that every student will fulfill graduation and college entrance requirements.

Why MBA

  • Dedicated and Passionate Teachers

  • Dynamic Enrichment - from Stem to Music

  • Championship Athletics

  • Specialized College and Career Preparation

  • Proven Track Record of Success