Nashville, TN

Housed in a stately‚ historic stone building in downtown Nashville‚ Hume-Fogg Academic High School is an example of how precedent-setting a public school can be.

Nashville’s first secondary magnet school for the city’s brightest students was a milestone for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools‚ with all courses except physical education at the honors or advanced-placement level. The students are drawn from throughout Metro and are encouraged to maintain high academic achievement as well as participate in the creative arts and other extracurricular offerings.

At the Nashville School of the Arts‚ another Metro magnet school‚ fine and performing arts are the focus. NSA offers core classes necessary for college admission‚ but nurtures one of Nashville’s most creative communities of teachers and students. Curricula in drama‚ music‚ dance‚ visual arts and even mass media lure students from across Metro.

NSA and Hume-Fogg enjoy national recognition‚ but there are more than 130 Metro schools with their own strengths.

In addition to zoned or assigned schools‚ optional schools include other academic magnet schools‚ enhanced-option schools and design centers. Students are selected for the magnet schools through a random lottery process‚ although in some cases qualifying requirements may exist. Three magnet schools focus on academics‚ three focus on math and science‚ and one specializes in technology-driven business and communications.

The Metro system also offers enhanced-option elementary programs‚ which give children a head start with prekindergarten instruction and also feature smaller class sizes and a longer school-year calendar for all enrolled students. These enhanced-option elementary schools also provide programs for gifted students.

Instruction is center stage in Nashville schools‚ and the district implements a core curriculum reform plan for grades kindergarten through eighth and has raised student performance standards and school accountability. In addition, students in grades third through eighth are required to take a standardized test known as the TCAP, or the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program, in order to evaluate skills in the areas of reading, language arts, mathematics, science and social studies.

The business community takes a special interest in the region’s schools. For example‚ the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce sponsors “Visit to Metro Schools‚” giving more than 100 community and business leaders a firsthand look at school operations.

Middle Tennessee has a long tradition of private education as well‚ providing choices to accommodate individual religious beliefs‚ as well as preferences for educational methods and approaches.

Private schools in the area range from secular schools – such as Battle Ground Academy (founded in Franklin in 1889)‚ East Academy‚ Ensworth School‚ Harding Academy and University School of Nashville – to schools affiliated with specific religious denominations. Among the many choices: Akiva School‚ Christ the King‚ Christ Presbyterian Academy‚ The Covenant School‚ David Lipscomb Campus School‚ Davidson Academy‚

The Dominican Campus (Overbrook School and Saint Cecilia Academy)‚ Ezell-Harding Christian School‚ Father Ryan High School‚ Franklin Road Academy‚ Holy Rosary Academy‚ Pope John Paul II High School‚ Radnor Baptist Academy‚ Saint Ann‚ Saint Bernard Academy‚ Saint Edward‚ Saint Henry‚ Saint Paul Christian Academy‚ Saint Pius X‚ and Saint Vincent de Paul. Harpeth Hall School and Saint Cecilia provide a single-sex learning environment for girls‚ while Montgomery Bell Academy does the same for boys.

Currey Ingram Academy and Willow Hall Academy focus on learning differences to help their students with special needs surpass expectations. Montessori Academy in Brentwood features one of the few American Montessori Society high schools in the United States.

For more than a century‚ Nashville has been called the Athens of the South for its dedication to the pursuits of education and the arts. Today‚ the tradition continues.