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Where Every Student is Known
Nashville’s public schools mirror our vibrant and diverse community, where every student is known, valued, and supported.
Success at Every Level
Metro Nashville Public Schools offer rigorous academic programs, like International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement courses, Early College degree opportunities, and Cambridge International, along with a bounty of hands-on learning experiences. At every grade level and in every content area, students are engaged and inspired by teachers who make it their mission to understand every student's talents and interests and support their goals and dreams.
Our internationally known Academies of Nashville promote career exploration at our 12 zoned high schools through school-within-a-school small learning communities and hundreds of business and community partnerships.
And strong community and college partnerships provide top opportunities to our students from Pre-K through Grade 12, including dual college credit programs and full-tuition university scholarships and on-campus supports through our University MNPS initiative.
Our Mission
We deliver a great public education to every student, every day.
Our Vision
Metro Nashville Public Schools will be established as the premier large school district in Tennessee and beyond by ensuring that every student is known.
Level 5 District
For the fourth consecutive year, Metro Nashville Public Schools attained a Level 5 growth score from the Tennessee Value Added Assessment System (TVAAS), the highest possible rating.
National Recognition
For the second year in a row, MNPS is ranked in the top 10 large urban districts in the country for both math growth and reading growth due to our post-pandemic recovery efforts – the only district to achieve this.
Graduation Rate
MNPS marked its highest graduation rate on record in 2024, with 4.5% year-over-year growth from 2023.
Exceeding Goals
Every grade level has shown improvement in all subjects on TCAP achievement tests. Exceeding the State: MNPS exceeded the state’s year-over-year growth in all four TCAP categories.
A Quick Glance
160
Schools
81,000+
Students
140+
Countries
130+
Languages
11,300+
Staff
80,600+
Meals Served
37,400+
Miles Driven
Experiences You Want
- Nationally recognized Pre-K programs
-
Grow Together, a Birth-to-Three initiative
- Magnet schools with unique themes such as sciences, the arts, languages, International Baccalaureate, and more.
- Championship athletics
- Exceptional visual and performing arts programs
- And so much more!
Each of our schools is deliberate and intentional, creating an educational environment where Every Student is Known and every student has the tools and resources to excel in college, career, and life.
Our History
Public education in Nashville dates back more than two centuries. Robertson Academy, founded in 1806 through a federal act establishing schools in each Tennessee county, remains open and serves as the center for MNPS's gifted (GATE) and exceptional education programs.
The city opened its first lasting public school, Hume School, in 1855. That building still stands and is now home to Hume-Fogg Magnet High School. Nashville operated its own school system until it merged with Davidson County’s schools in 1964.
Davidson County established its Board of Education in 1907 to oversee a growing network of schools. Several original county schools—like Antioch, Jere Baxter, and Harpeth Valley—are still part of the MNPS system today.
In 1963, the creation of a unified Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County led to the merger of the two school systems. The first Metropolitan Board of Education met July 1, 1964.
Today, Metro Nashville Public Schools serves approximately 81,000 students across 160 schools, making it the 49th largest district in the nation. We are led by a nine-member elected Board of Education and a superintendent, with funding approved by the Metro Council.