Metro Nashville school board renews six public charter schools
A student at KIPP Kirkpatrick discusses his work with an instructor. (Photo by KIPP Nashville)
The Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Board of Education voted Tuesday to renew the ten-year charter agreements for Valor Voyager Academy, Rocketship United Academy, STEM Prep High School, Explore! Community School, STRIVE Collegiate Academy, and KIPP Kirkpatrick Elementary.
Board members approved four of the charter agreements (Valor Voyager, Rocketship, STEM Prep, and Explore!) unanimously. Public charter schools are free public schools operated by an independent contract or “charter” with an authorizing agency like a school district or the state.
According to recommendations from the district’s charter review team, Valor Voyager leaders “provided evidence of students outperforming state achievement averages for various subgroups.” District leaders also noted that while there are still some performance gaps for students who are economically disadvantaged and students with disabilities, the school has a clear plan for “how they are addressing those gaps for these students through increased monitoring, improved data response, and co-teaching strategies.”
At Rocketship, charter review leaders said educators have made progress in closing achievement gaps for all students, particularly among economically disadvantaged students, English leaders, students with disabilities, and students of color.
From left, MNPS Board of Education members Abigail Tylor and Zach Young. (Screenshot)
“In 2023, these student groups outperformed or matched their peers in nearby zone schools and the district in Math, ELA, and Science. Despite the pandemic's impact, these groups have shown progress compared to the Glencliff cluster and the district,” the district’s recommendation noted.
STEM Prep was also lauded for its support of English learners, as well as for its use of data to help guide programming. The recommendation said the school uses “a variety of data to evaluate the effectiveness of its academic program, inform instructional practices, evaluate teacher effectiveness, and implement professional development.”
The committee similarly cited sufficient academic progress at Explore! along with STRIVE and KIPP Kirkpatrick that both passed with only opposition from board members Abigail Tylor, who voted against both public charter schools, and Zach Young who opposed STRIVE’s renewal.
During public comments, a group of former Rocketship students currently enrolled at Libscomb University encouraged the board to renew Rocketship’s charter due to the academic support and guidance it provides its students. One student said they’re examples of how charter schools like Rocketship can lead to postsecondary success.
“Like myself, all of us attended charter schools K-12, and together, we represent the lasting impact of the elementary foundation Rocketship provided us with. Rocketship was not just a school, it was a family,” she said.
Leaders from the Nashville Charter Collaborative released a statement to the Tennessee Firefly applauding the board’s decision to renew the schools’ charters and congratulating them on achieving renewal.
“We commend the public-school leaders and teachers at Explore!, KIPP Kirkpatrick, Rocketship United, STEM Prep, STRIVE Collegiate, and Valor Voyager for the work they do to not only effectively serve families, but meet rigorous standards to continue educating within the public school system,” NCC CEO Subira Gordon said in a public statement.
Tuesday’s approvals break a string of MNPS decisions that have been in opposition of charter schools. MNPS board members have denied every application for a new charter school three years in a row and last November, board members denied a charter renewal request from Rocketship Nashville Northeast Elementary School, despite it being one of Northeast Nashville’s highest performing elementary schools.
MNPS leaders have also faced criticism for choosing not to invite district charters to its annual celebration of schools.
