True to their motto, Overton High School has been “producing stars in the classroom and on the stage” since 1959. The school hosts one of the Memphis-Shelby County Optional Programs in Creative and Performing Arts, where students receive an extra hour of instruction daily in their choice of art, band, broadcasting, choir, creative writing, dance, orchestra or piano.
All Optional Program participants find ample opportunity to showcase their talent, and musical students have the extra perk of free use of the recording studio funded by the 2017 Grammy Signature School Enterprise Award. Optional Program students win frequent accolades, and several alumni have gone on to perform with such legends as Bruno Mars, Missy Elliott and Courtney Cox.
Overton High’s student body numbers over 1,300 and includes students who choose the school for its many athletic opportunities ranging from basketball to bowling. Still others are there for a well-rounded education from Overton’s southern East Memphis school zone.
While Overton High may not have the highest graduation rate in town, a variety of Early Postsecondary Opportunities are available to help motivated students jumpstart their college education and careers. With a menu of over 40 different academic, athletic and extracurricular activities, Overton High School offers an educational experience tailorable to every student’s unique dreams.
Overton High
Public High School
|
Grade 9-12
1770 Lanier Ln,
Memphis, TN
Shelby County Schools
School Details
Head of School
Brett E. Lawson
Student Teacher Ratio
19:1
Average SAT Score
900
Average ACT Score
20
Math Proficiency
5%
Reading Proficiency
22%
Average GPA
3.47
Graduation Rate
75%
Niche Grade
C
B
B-
C+
C-
B
B-
C-
Source: Niche
Niche Grade Details
Academics
Average GPA
3.47
Reading Proficiency
22%
Math Proficiency
5%
Teachers
Student Teacher Ratio
19:1
Teachers
79
Full Time Teachers
79
Teachers in First or Second Year
8.1%
College Prep
Average SAT
900
Math
440
Verbal
460
Average ACT
20
Math
18
English
21
Reading
21
Science
20
Number of AP Courses
12
AP Pass Rate
50.5%
AP Math Enrollment
Very Low
AP Science Enrollment
Very Low
Other AP Enrollment
Low
Clubs and Activities
Girls Athletic Participation
Very Low
Boys Athletic Participation
Very Low
GreatSchools Rating
Source: GreatSchools
GreatSchools Rating Details
Test Scores
English
16.1%
State Average
56.3%
Teachers and Staff
Students Per Counselor
334:1
Student Diversity
Female
51.3%
Male
48.7%
Black
51.1%
Hispanic
42.6%
Two or more races
3.4%
White
2.2%
Asian or Pacific Islander
<1%
Specialty School Programs
AP Programs Offered
Free/Reduced Lunch Offered
Athletics Program
Colleges Students are Considering
Students are most interested in or go on to attend these colleges.
University of Memphis
462 Students
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
252 Students
Middle Tennessee State University
232 Students
Tennessee State University
225 Students
Austin Peay State University
167 Students
Christian Brothers University
163 Students
Jackson State University
135 Students
Southwest Tennessee Community College
121 Students
Mississippi State University
110 Students
Belmont University
109 Students
What Students Want to Study
Niche users from this school are most interested in the following majors.
Business
94 Students
Nursing
94 Students
Psychology
52 Students
Biology
52 Students
Pre-Medicine Studies
39 Students
Music Performance
35 Students
Graphic Design
31 Students
Computer Science
29 Students
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Administration
28 Students
Dance
27 Students
This School’s Reviews
Niche Reviews
5/5/2025
The school is good for making friends and meting new people in the area you might live in but it is to small to hold all the students. Along with the fact there isn't much to do because of the low funding they have from the school system.
3/2/2025
Overall Overton High is really not that bad, but it needs some improvement. For an example there isn't really many clubs for people to join creating a boring environment for students. When it comes to academics, there can be some improvement. Mainly in science areas because my sophomore and junior year I had virtual teachers, and it was hard for me to really grasp the information I needed.
2/27/2025
Overton is a pretty okay school. The teachers are educated well in the subject they teach about and so is administration. The school is just very closed off it feels like i wish was had more freedom but i don't think that will apply because of the students. What I don't like is how majority of the students aren't well behaved, and that's more than likely why we don't have access to do anything even so that Overton is deemed as one of the "100 top schools in Tn" so they say. But overall Overton is a great school choice to consider if you are interested in getting the right education or performing arts.
GreatSchools Reviews
9/4/2013
This school needs some work. Throughout my sophomore year there have been many problems ranging from teachers to students. Some students really don't care and I'm in honors classes. Partially I feel some teachers don't care either. Some teach what would be taught in a special needs class. I don't fe...
10/13/2011
this school is amazing. great staff. great students and great history. the capa is mind-blowing. the students really want to exceed in life. and everyone should want to go to overton high school.
10/27/2010
I graduated from Overton in 2008. Overton had its good and its bad moments. I was apart of the CAPA program and I loved it; however, outside of that, it didn't make it any different from any other public school. You had students who were trying to be like everybody else,students who were trying to b...
4/22/2010
This school has lost its good reputattion. It makes a mockery of the other performing arts schools that are actually serious about building artistic careers for their students. It should just drop the creavtive and performing arts from its name and just become a regular high school. The principal as...
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Map
Attendance Zone
List Price Range
$139K - $699K
Homes For Sale
110
Average Home Value
$239,754
Median Lot Size
9,583 Sq Ft
% Renters
32%
Average Household Income
$97,315
% of College Grads
48.2%
Median Age
38
Average House Size
1,532 Sq Ft
% Commercial Property
35.1%
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
-
-
-
$775 - $895 per month
- Cherry Creek Apartments
- 1 - 3 Beds
- 1 Bath
- 550+ Sq Ft
- 1460 Cherry Rd
- Memphis, TN
Additional Schools in the Area
Public Schools shown may be Choice Schools
Choice Schools
Choice schools may not serve this home. Please check the school district website to see all schools serving this home.
- Pre-K to 12th
- Public
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 9th to 12th
- Public
Parks in this Area
Sea Isle Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Disc Golf
- Dog Park
Marquette Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Grills
- Picnic Area
My Big Backyard
Godwin Park
- Soccer
- Trails
- Playground
Willow Road Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Pool
Gagliano Field
- Baseball/Softball
- Parking Lot
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Overton High is a public school for students in grades 9-12 in Memphis, TN and is served by the Shelby County Schools in Tennessee. The school has a total enrollment of 1,363 and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 19:1. Academic records show that 5% of students achieve proficiency in math, and 22% are proficient in reading. Overton High has received feedback and ratings, with a Niche grade of C+ and a GreatSchools Rating of 3 out of 10. The average GPA is 3.47, the graduation rate is 75%, and average standardized test scores include an SAT score of 900 and an ACT score of 20. The average home value in this area is $239,754. Discover additional schools in the area, like Shrine School, Sheffield High School, Wooddale High School, and more. Learn more about what Memphis has to offer, and browse homes for sale and for rent near Overton High.