MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A federal judge has ruled that the merger between Memphis City Schools and its surrounding county school district is legal.

It paves the way to create a school system with 150,000 students in 2013.

District Judge Samuel Mays’ Monday ruling says that the Memphis city school board acted legally when it surrendered its right to exist last December to force a merger with the more successful Shelby County school system.

The judge ordered the county school board to oversee the transition. The county had sued to block the merger.

Voters approved the merger in March, but the federal lawsuit had been holding up the consolidation process.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.