MSCS schools closed Monday as widespread power outages left dozens of campuses without electricity following storm damage across the Memphis area.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools announced that all schools and district administrative offices will remain shut on Monday, August 24, as crews continue working to restore power across the affected areas.

The Scale of the Outage

The disruption is significant. According to MSCS, more than 70,000 customers are currently without power, along with 40 schools and administrative buildings tied to the district.

Memphis Light, Gas and Water reported Sunday that 35 Memphis-Shelby County public schools and five private schools remain without electricity as restoration efforts continue.

MSCS said it is coordinating directly with MLGW and local officials to track progress and determine when campuses can safely reopen.

Collierville Takes a Different Approach

Just outside Memphis, Collierville Schools is handling the situation differently. All Collierville campuses currently have power, so the district will operate on a two-hour delay Monday rather than closing entirely.

Even with electricity restored, district officials cited a separate concern driving the delay: several routes to and from schools may be blocked or partially obstructed by storm debris. The extra time is meant to allow crews to clear roadways and ensure students can reach campus safely.

What Families Should Expect

For MSCS families, Monday means no classes and no access to district buildings, a decision driven directly by the scope of the power outages affecting both schools and surrounding neighborhoods. Parents should watch for updates from the district as MLGW continues restoration work, since the timeline for reopening will depend heavily on how quickly power returns to the affected campuses.

For Collierville families, the two-hour delay means a later start rather than a full closure, though parents should still plan for possible detours or slower travel given the storm damage affecting some routes.

Both districts are expected to provide further updates as conditions develop through the day Monday.