LEAD Public Schools proposes creating K-12 school pipelines with two new elementary schools

Children in a classroom (Photo by LEAD Public Schools)

LEAD Public Schools has been providing families in Nashville with a school choice option since founder Jeremy Kane started LEAD Academy in 2007 for fifth and sixth-graders.

Today LEAD has grown to run six public charter schools in Nashville, including four in the Metro-Nashville Public School district serving families in South Nashville and Antioch. What the charter operator believes it’s lacking though, are elementary schools to feed students into those existing middle and high schools.

That’s where the proposed LEAD Cameron Elementary and LEAD Southeast Elementary come in.  Tonight, school board members will consider applications for both.

LEAD Cameron Elementary would serve families south of downtown in the historic Chestnut Hill neighborhood. LEAD says the demand for quality elementary school options is increasing in the growing area to complement the existing Cameron Middle School that serves students with a rigorous, college preparatory education.LEAD envisions providing that same option to up to 360 K-5 grade students in the area and create a true K-12 pipeline with LEAD Cameron Middle School and LEAD Academy High School. The school would prioritize early literacy skills to establish a strong academic foundation and offer a holistic approach to closing gaps in academic achievement by focusing on engaging learning activities, social-emotional learning, and providing a positive environment with supportive teachers.

“LEAD Cameron Elementary School is strategically designed as an innovative and transformative educational institution in central Nashville,” wrote LEAD in its application. “Leveraging the success of LEAD Public Schools network, specifically LEAD Cameron Middle, the proposed elementary school seeks to uphold and enhance the established legacy of academic excellence.”

LEAD Southeast Elementary would form a similar K-12 pipeline with LEAD Southeast Middle and High School.The charter operator founded LEAD Southeast Middle School in 2013 to respond to the need for personalized, high-quality instruction in the South Nashville and Antioch communities. LEAD Southeast High School soon joined, allowing students the opportunity to remain in the learning environment until graduation.

LEAD is proposing the new elementary school to serve up to 360 students with an academic model that prioritizes early literacy skills to establish a strong academic foundation and provides a holistic approach to close gaps in academic achievement.

“The educational model at LEAD Southeast Elementary centers around the belief that all students excel with appropriate support and encouragement. The academic plan consists of rigorous, standards-aligned content, state-approved curricula, and a focus on problem-solving and critical thinking. A unique newcomer model, which has been successful in our middle school, will be extended to elementary students,” wrote LEAD in its application.

Independent reviewers recommend approval for both schools

The independent Quality Charter Review (QCR) evaluated both applications and is recommending approval.

QCR reviewers praised both schools’ measurable goals and robust academic assessment plans, along with the pathways they would create for families to have continuity in their education experience.Additionally, reviewers complimented LEAD for the success it’s had with six other public charter schools in Nashville and praised the charter operator’s emphasis on fostering positive relations, family engagement, and wrap around services.

“The application(s) contains measurable goals in all areas of academic achievement, growth, chronic absenteeism, school culture, subgroup performance, English Language Proficiency, tiered intervention, individual growth goals, and family engagement to monitor the implementation and success of the educational program,” wrote QCR reviewers.

Reviewers did provide some recommendations for improvement in both applications including encouraging LEAD to explain how enrollment projections are based on community need and clarity for how it will maintain enrollment for the schools and address any possible overlap in targeted communities served.

The Quality Charter Review and Tennessee Firefly are unaffiliated projects of Tennesseans for Student Success.