LEAD Academy High School Nominated for 2020 Charter School of the Year
Students attending LEAD Academy High School learn about possibilities. They may select from seven Advanced Placement (AP) options, more than 10 different clubs and after-school activities and five sports. Throughout their four years of school, they attend college seminar and every single standard diploma student applies to a four-year university. Everyone working at LEAD Academy focuses on making every student ready for college and ready for life.
Those possibilities lead to excellence — for the students and the staff. The Tennessee Charter School Center recognized LEAD Academy’s excellence and named the school as a finalist for the Charter School of the Year award during their upcoming Charter Champion Awards, to be announced on November 17. The 2020 Virtual Tennessee Charter Champion Awards provides a rare opportunity for charter school staff, advocates, and education leaders from across the state to connect and be recognized for their successes.
“The staff at LAHS work tirelessly on a daily basis to provide the best possible education that puts our students on a path of expanded opportunity,” said Principal Nic Frank. “Being nominated for this award highlights the great work of our staff, students and families.”
Over the past few years, the school’s AP program grew in large part due to the vision of Maggie Sneed, assistant principal of instruction, and Susie Nash, data and assessment coordinator.
These leaders recognized the value of encouraging college-readiness. The school’s success is seen in their high graduation rate. More than 93% of students graduated in the class of 2020; higher than the 82% graduation rate in Metro Nashville Public Schools and the 89% state-wide.
“This nomination honors the people in our school doing the hardest work: teachers,” said LaVoe Mulgrew, head of schools. “They are the ones encouraging our students to challenge themselves to take rigorous honors courses and to persevere through their senior year.”
In this year of remote learning, recognition of the school’s hard work demonstrates the importance of full commitment to excellence by all stakeholders.
“Students, families and staff all deserve the credit for achieving this success,” said Frank. “It’s the collaboration of our community that makes this possible.”
The winner was announced on Tuesday, November 17, via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. LEAD was honored to be a finalist and congratulates Aurora Collegiate Academy for being the 2020 winner.
