A group of anonymous benefactors came forward with the initial investment needed to reopen the Catholic Schools in the inner city of Memphis. These benefactors believed in the impact of a quality, Christian, Catholic education. In July 1999, Bishop J. Terry Steib, S.V.D., announced the reopening of urban Catholic schools that had previously closed due to low enrollment and lack of funding in order to serve the children of inner-city Memphis neighborhoods. The goal was to create an educational environment where children and their famalies could learn, grow and be loved. The schools were named in honor of the Jubilee Year 2000, a year of atonement and rebirth.
Enrollment began with 26 students in one kindergarten class, and today there are over 1,600 students. All eight of the Jubilee Schools educate the children, clothe them, wash their uniforms and provide nutritious meals for breakfast and lunch. For many of the children, these are the only meals of the day. The Jubilee Schools offer assistance with adult literacy, job training and health and wellness education for the student's entire family. Jubilee Schools' students outperform their neighboring schools on standardized tests in reading, language and math. These students are exceeding academically and learning the value of being a faithful Christian and a good citizen.
