Students, parents and community members can find accurate and timely updates about the recent lead testing results. However, please continue to count on your school principal for specific details about your particular school. Student safety is our main priority, and we appreciate the partnership, support and understanding of our families and community throughout this process.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools recently performed routine lead testing of all water sources in each of our schools, which is a requirement by state law. During the testing, approximately 3,500 total samples were taken, including faucets, drinking fountains, and ice machines. The overwhelming majority of our schools showed minimal to no traces of lead in any fountains or water sources. Even though most of the affected water sources are not frequently used, as part of the District’s proactive and precautionary process, these fountains were all shut off and immediately removed from use, and they do not have any effect on any other fountains or water sources in the building.