Jorge Quinteros Olivares’ family came to the United States more than a decade ago seeking asylum from Guatemala.¶
His mother, Lesly Olivares, says the soon-to-be high school freshman faced challenges in elementary school as an immigrant student dealing with bullying. That changed in the sixth grade, when she enrolled Jorge in LEAD Neely’s Bend.¶
The Madison community public charter school had interpreters to meet the family’s needs, and Olivares says the school culture was a better fit for helping her son grow.¶
“There’s no discrimination against Hispanic people here, I never really hear anything about drugs, about fights, anything like that,” said Olivares through an interpreter. “The teachers work well with the students. They help them to become more responsible, because in the past, Jorge wasn’t really a responsible kid, wasn’t a very responsible person, but he’s a lot more so around the house now as well.”¶
Jorge has also succeeded academically.¶
At a ceremony last month honoring students like him, who made the honor roll, Jorge gave credit to his teachers.¶
“I’ve grown exponentially in my academics,” said Jorge Olivares. “In my time here, I’ve also seen people (go) from having failing grades to getting straight As or Bs, learn to cooperate, build community, and also learn amazing things, thanks to the loving support of the staff and teachers of LEAD Neely’s Bend.”¶
First High School Class
In the past, students like Jorge might have had to either return to their zoned Metro Nashville Public School in the ninth grade or seek out another public charter high school. LEAD Public Schools’ nearest high school is 15 miles south of Neely’s Bend, but that will change next August.¶
In January, the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission, which authorizes LEAD Neely’s Bend, approved a request to add high school grades in the school’s east wing. Jorge will be part of the school’s initial class of students.¶
“Over the last decade, LEAD Neely’s Bend Middle has been on an exciting trajectory, going from the bottom 5 percent to the top 25 percent of schools in Tennessee,” said Dr. Ricki Gibbs, CEO at LEAD Public Schools. “Opening a high school will not only expand opportunities for current LEAD Neely’s Bend students, it will also provide a new high-quality high school option for families with limited choices in their geographic area. We are excited about the opportunity to expand our offerings and reach even more families in the Madison community.”¶
School History
LEAD Public Schools founded LEAD Neely’s Bend Middle School in 2015 when the state-run Achievement School District (ASD) selected the charter operator to take over the district-run Neely’s Bend Middle after it fell in the bottom five percent of all Tennessee schools for academic performance. Neely’s Bend’s academic performance improved under LEAD’s operation, and the school exited priority status and the ASD in 2022.¶
In 2023, the charter commission approved LEAD Neely’s Bend to join the group of schools it oversees. LEAD additionally operates five other schools in south Davidson County.¶
Preparing for College and Career
All LEAD students participate in a school model that’s designed to prepare them for college or careers, and this will be true of LEAD Neely’s Bend. The school will utilize LEAD’s advisory program, known as CREW, in which a small group, or crew, meets weekly to discuss college and career topics, as well as social and emotional learning.¶
Neely’s Bend seniors will also take a Senior Seminar class focused on life beyond high school.¶
Olivares says those programs are important to her son as he wants to go to college when he graduates, and she believes LEAD Neely’s Bend is the right school to put him on that path.¶
“The fact that (LEAD has) intentional programming to help prepare them and hopefully enter into college and university, that is something really good,” said Lesly Olivares. “He wants to play soccer and he wants to cook and he felt that this school was going be a place that would help motivate him towards continuing to reach for his dreams.”¶
LEAD Public Schools is now enrolling ninth grade students for the upcoming school year at LEAD Neely’s Bend High. Interested families can apply online.¶
