LEAD Public Schools withdraws one charter school appeal and moves ahead with another

LEAD students celebrating academic achievement last month (Photo by LEAD Public Schools)

Leaders of LEAD Public Schools have decided to drop their appeal for the proposed LEAD Cameron Elementary, and instead focus on the appeal for proposed LEAD Southeast Elementary.

LEAD applied to open both public charter schools earlier this year as part of a plan to create two K-12 pipelines to existing LEAD middle and high schools in South and Southeast Nashville and Antioch.  The Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Board of Education denied both applications in July, and the charter network appealed to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission (TPCSC) hoping to overturn those decisions. Charter schools are free public schools operated by an independent contract or “charter” with an authorizing agency like a school district or the state.

LEAD Public Schools administrators including CEO Dwayne Tucker (bottom right) at last month's public hearing (Photo by Sky Arnold)

The commission held a public hearing for both appeals last month and the board has a meeting scheduled for next week to decide them. Late last week LEAD Public Schools sent a letter to the commission, saying it has decided to withdraw the application for LEAD Cameron.

“Although we are excited about the possibility of a feeder elementary school for LEAD Cameron Middle, we believe it is in the best interest of our current families to pause our plans to open LEAD Cameron Elementary and focus our efforts on improving academic outcomes in literacy and numeracy at LEAD Cameron Middle. I am proud that LEAD Cameron Middle has consistently been a (Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System) Level 5 school over the past decade,” said LEAD Public Schools CEO Dwayne Tucker in a statement to the Tennessee Firefly. “This was a challenging decision, but I have full confidence in the leadership and staff at LEAD Cameron. I am certain we will continue to prioritize and improve proficiency rates and plan to resubmit the application for LEAD Cameron Elementary at a later date, ensuring we remain focused on achieving our academic goals. LEAD is still moving forward with the application for LEAD Southeast Elementary, with plans to open the school in Fall 2025, pending approval from the TPCSC on Oct. 17.”

MNPS board members rejected both of LEAD’s applications citing misleading academic comparisons of existing and former LEAD students with students from more affluent areas of Nashville who scored higher on state tests.

During last month’s public hearing, LEAD administrators pushed back on claims its students are underperforming by sharing data showing LEAD-run public charter schools have been outperforming comparable district-run schools that serve students from similar racial and economic backgrounds. 

LEAD Southeast Pipeline

Commissioners will consider that data later this month to decide whether to grant the K-12 southeast pipeline the proposed new elementary school would create.

LEAD currently operates three middle schools and two high school for families in South and Southeast Nashville and Antioch. The proposed LEAD Southeast Elementary would integrate up to 360 students into the LEAD academic system earlier.

LEAD parent Mayra Mancilla is among those who hope to see that application granted.

Mancilla wrote the commission in support of LEAD’s appeal for Lead Southeast, saying she immediately saw results from her fifth-grade daughter and ninth-grade son after enrolling them in a LEAD school.

“Truly I am new to the school system, I have only been here for 1 month, but in that short time I have seen positive changes in my children and that fills me with great peace. For that reason, I urge you to support this great project so that more children, from a younger age, can enjoy the same opportunity to receive a quality education and be a part of the incredible LEAD family,” wrote Mancilla. “Please keep in mind the many children who, for different reasons, do not have the opportunity to receive an education in a place where they are made to feel they belong.”