1. Art and Diseño

Curriculum Options
Piano
The Overton Piano Program develops performers with distinctive artistic profiles who are skilled as both solo and collaborative players. At Overton, Piano students cultivate and refine
their skills, technique, and artistic expression in an outstanding
facility that features 21 digital workstations, each equipped with
full-sized, touch-sensitive electric pianos, and professional composition, notation, and recording software. The piano studio also
houses a nine-foot Baldwin Concert Grand Piano.
In addition to on-site instructors, Piano students work closely
with college professors from several major universities from
across the country, along with guest artist performers. Students
perform in solo recitals, concert performances, master classes
with visiting artists, and integrated studio showcases.
Overton piano students have been awarded the Presidential
Scholarship and Outstanding Piano Student Awards. Students
also participate in Greater Memphis Music Teachers Association
(GMMTA) auditions, various national piano festivals, the Amro
Keyboard Festival, the All-City Piano Festival, the American
College of Musicians, and the National Guild of Piano Teachers
Festival.
Visual Art
The Visual Arts Program at Overton prepares students for
advanced Art studies through a series of classes that build visual
awareness and technical skills. In-depth classes in drawing and
painting are taught in conjunction with specialized instruction in
photography, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, and digital design.
Overton also offers all three Advanced Placement (AP) Studio
Art classes, and Overton students consistently score higher than
the national average.
The school’s Digital Art Design (DAD) program, an innovative component of the Visual Arts Program, is taught in a design
studio equipped with Apple computer stations and a wealth of
graphic drawing tools and software. The DAD Program offers
art students knowledge and skills in graphic design, animation,
and digital illustration. All students explore a rigorous curriculum
in both digital and fine art forms. Overton students consistently
receive Regional Scholastic Art Awards, frequently earning Silver
and Gold Keys, in addition to winning scholarships. Recent
recognitions include First and Second Place in the Regional
ACT-SO Contest, Second Place in the National ACT-SO
Contest, and a $40,000 scholarship through Memphis College of
Art for top honors in the Memphis Airport Authority Art
Contest.
Vocal Music
Overton’s Vocal Music
Program maintains the highest
standards for performance in the
choral arts and vocal music. The
school’s Chamber Singers, Show
Choir, and commercial music
ensemble (“Overton Ovation”)
are in constant demand for performances. Overton choirs con-
tinue a rich tradition of earning
Superior ratings and first-place
awards at local and national festivals and competitions. Overton’s
Vocal Music Program has earned
high respect for its extraordinary
vocal ensembles. Overton’s Vocal
Music students are regularly chosen as participants in the All-West
Tennessee Honors Choir, and
many students are also selected
for All-State Choirs. Overton students have been privileged to participate in master classes with
recording artists such as Dee Dee
Bridgewater, Al Jarreau, Mamie
Coleman, Janeese Thomas, and
others. Students also benefit from
master classes and side-by-side
performances with singers from local universities. Overton graduates Wendy Moten and Alexis Grace have both distinguished
themselves as singers on the television show American Idol.
Contact Us
The principal and staff at Overton High encourage parents and prospective Optional students
to visit the school. Please call the school office to
schedule a guided tour.
Overton High - (901) 416-2136
CAPA Office - (901) 416-2142
Department of Optional Schools and
Advanced Academics
(901) 416-5338
Overton High on the Web
www.overtonhs.net
Community Support
Overton enjoys outstanding support from its Adopt-A-School
Partners, including The University of Memphis College of
Communication and Fine Arts, WHBQ-TV (Fox 13), the Stax
Museum of American Soul Music, The Orpheum Theatre, the Law
Offices of John Michael Bailey, Highpoint Church, Lenny’s Sub
Shop #19, City G.E.A.R, OrthoMemphis and the Memphis and
Shelby County Music Commission.
Overton is the site of several annual public events that showcase
students’ performances and artwork. CAPA projects have been featured on WHBQ-TV’s Good Morning Memphis and WREG-TV’s Live
at 9 shows. The Memphis Symphony Orchestra continues its partnership in developing young musicians though the CAPA Virtuosi
Project. Other local experts and artists frequently bring their talents
into Overton classrooms to conduct master classes, inspiring students to reach for the highest performance standards.
As the sole high school for the Creative and Performing Arts in
the Mid-South, Overton frequently hosts notable musicians, artists,
actors, dancers and other special guests who are performing in the
Memphis area. Overton students also benefit from visits by local
professionals, such as attorneys, business executives, doctors, restaurant owners, and entrepreneurs.
Commissioners
Teresa Jones, Chair
Kevin D. Woods, Vice Chair
Shante K. Avant
Miska Clay Bibbs
Chris Caldwell
Mike Kernell
Stephanie Love
Scott McCormick
William “Billy” Orgel
Dorsey Hopson II, Esq., Superintendent
Shelby County Schools offers educational and employment opportunities
without regard to race, color, religion, sex, creed, age, disability, national
origin, or genetic information.12/14
Overton
High School
improvisation. Overton band members are also frequently chosen to
participate in the All-State Orchestra, Band, and Jazz bands, and the
Grammy All-Star Jazz Band. In 2014, the Overton Blues Jazz
Ensemble was recognized as the 2nd Place Jazz Ensemble in the
United States at the Swing Central Jazz Festival in Savannah, GA.
Overton students are frequently awarded college scholarships to
some of the most prestigious schools in the country.
Role for his role as Rump in Overton’s 2012 production of
“Grease”. We also had students receive 2013 nominations for
Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Outstanding
Student Orchestra for “110 In the Shade”. Overton also encourages students’ interest in the theater through participation in the
International Thespian Society.
Grades 9-12
Broadcasting
The introduction of Guitar Studies into the CAPA Program
offers both advanced and emerging guitarists an opportunity to
develop their musicianship through a focused study in music
theory and performance. Students will focus on the fundamental principles of classical guitar while being offered opportunities
to engage in jazz studies, commercial music, and more. Students
will have additional opportunities to work with guest artists, participate in master classes, and collaborate with other students
through performance in the ensemble setting. The CAPA guitar
program is open to guitarists and bassists.
Creative and Performing Arts
1770 Lanier Lane
Memphis, TN 38117
Principal: Brett Lawson
(901) 416-2136
Arts in Education
Overton High School is widely known for its Creative and
Performing Arts (CAPA) Optional Program’s success in helping
students develop their talents to their fullest potential. This success was recently recognized on a national level when Overton
was identified as a 2015 GRAMMY Signature School SemiFinalist in recognition of its outstanding commitment to music
education during the academic school year. This is a distinction
awarded to top U.S. Public High Schools. Students in the CAPA
Academy, those enrolled in Overton’s Optional Program, can
work toward their creative and academic goals in a small learning community within the high school.
The CAPA faculty strives to help students become “stars in
the classroom and on the stage”. Overton offers students a rigorous academic curriculum while enabling them to learn the
technical and creative aspects of artistic expression. In addition
to a concentration within the arts, students may enroll in challenging academic coursework, including Honors and Advanced
Placement (AP) courses. Students benefit from learning opportunities that extend beyond the typical school day, including
master classes, frequent visits by guest artists, performances, and
other enrichment opportunities.
The Overton Broadcasting Program provides a unique opportunity for students to learn about the field of electronic media.
Participating students are able to gain hands-on experience using
state-of-the-art electronic communications technology both in the
classroom and at Shelby County Schools’ Telecommunications
Center. Students learn through conceptualizing, researching, writing,
directing, and producing various shows and special projects. The
Broadcasting Program was awarded the grand prize in the 2013
Regency Homebuilders High School Video Contest and has recently
incorporated live, global broadcasting through their WOHS-TV program via High School Cube.
Creative Writing
Students learn to express themselves through the written word in
Overton’s Creative Writing Program. Students select a focused concentration in the genre of their choice. In a studio setting, students
receive guidance through prompts and master classes to achieve
recognition in local, regional, and national writing competitions and
publications. Students have work published every year in the nationally acclaimed “Creative Communications” publication. Overton students have won prestigious awards, including Gold Keys in the
National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.
Dance
Curriculum Options
The Overton Dance Program emphasizes the development of
artistic expression, technical skills, and creativity in a variety of dance
styles, including jazz, ballet, lyrical, modern, and tap. The Overton
dancers are active in productions throughout the city, and they often
have the opportunity to participate in master class sessions taught by
nationally renowned dance troupes, such as the Alvin Ailey Dancers,
the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes, The University of Memphis,
the World Class Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, the cast of
“Memphis”, and the Nubian Dance Theatre. Many Overton dancers
receive academic scholarships to colleges and universities to continue
their dance studies at the post-secondary level.
Band
Theatre
Overton’s outstanding Band Program, which includes symphonic, jazz, and marching bands, is consistently recognized on a
national level and is in high demand at local, regional, and national festivals, conferences, and events. Overton bands and students
are well recognized for their outstanding performances. Overton
enjoys a partnership with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra,
whose members coach individual students and student ensembles. This relationship has helped provide Overton with the highest percentage of students participating in All-District ensembles
of any high school in the state. The Overton Jazz Program offers
a daily large-ensemble experience as well as study in combos and
The Overton Theatre Program offers invaluable opportunities for
students to learn about all aspects of the theater. Throughout the
school year, students have the opportunity to act, direct, and work as
technicians for main stage productions, as well as for various live theatre and community productions. Students also compete in speech
and debate tournaments, using prepared material such as monologues, scenes, poetry, and improvisation. Overton’s annual musical
production is regularly nominated for awards in multiple categories
for the High School Musical Theatre Award (HSMTA) program
sponsored by the Orpheum Theater. CAPA student Kylan Owens
received the distinguished award for Outstanding Actor in a Featured
Guitar
Orchestra
String students at Overton have the opportunity to study and
perform some of the most well-known and revered music in
the professional string orchestra repertoire. Students also learn
chamber music, solo playing techniques, and music from other
genres. Orchestra students have additional opportunities to
work with wind, brass, and percussion students as members of
a full symphony orchestra. Overton Orchestra members also
enjoy a partnership with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and
the University of Memphis String Department, whose members
coach individual students and student ensembles. Each year,
Overton students are selected to participate in the Tennessee
Governor’s School for the Arts Summer Program & All-State
Honors Orchestra, in addition to performing with the Memphis
Youth Symphony. Overton Strings graduates are frequently
offered scholarships to schools such as The University of
Louisville, The University of Mississippi, and The University of
Tennessee, among many others.
Requirements
Students applying for the Overton High School Creative and
Performing Arts Program must complete an Application for
Optional Schools, which can be obtained from Overton High School,
1770 Lanier Lane or the Department of Optional Schools and
Advanced Academics, 160 S. Hollywood, Room C106. Students must
also submit a copy of the most recent comprehensive report card.
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
• 2.0 overall grade point average for each semester
• No grade lower than a D as a semester or final grade
• Students entering grades 9-12 must score at or above the 50th
percentile on the Reading/Language Arts AND on the
Mathematics subtests of the TCAP Achievement Test or
a nationally normed achievement test.
• On the Explore, Plan, ACT, PSAT, or SAT, eligible students must
score at the 50th percentile on comparable subtests.
• Students must score Proficient or above on the appropriate Endof-Course exams.
• Students must maintain satisfactory conduct and attendance,
including promptness to school and to each class. (A total of
more than 15 absences and/or tardies to school and to class is
considered unsatisfactory.)
In addition to the academic, conduct, and attendance requirements,
applicants must successfully complete an audition, agree to stay an
extra hour each day in a specialized CAPA class, and agree to meet all
the requirements of the student’s major department. After submitting
an Application for Optional Schools, the student and parent will be
contacted by Overton’s staff to arrange an audition. Parents must be
present at the audition.
Students enrolled in Colonial Middle School’s CAPA Program may
continue in the same CAPA Program at Overton High School, provided they continue to meet the transfer renewal requirements. A
placement audition and orientation will be required for all new students entering the CAPA Program.
To remain in the Optional Program, students must submit a Renewal
Application for Optional Schools each year and maintain the admission requirements for grades, attendance, and conduct, as well as program requirements. Failure to maintain all of these requirements will
result in the student’s removal from the program.
All Optional transfers to the program from outside the assigned geographical boundaries of Overton High School must be officially
approved by the Department of Optional Schools and Advanced
Academics annually.
Transportation is the responsibility of the student’s parents/legal
guardians.
Final approval is contingent upon the review of the student’s
final report card.