Student Demographics
We invite you to learn more about LEAD Public Schools and join us in celebrating a major milestone: 15 years of Inspiring Futures.
While a lot has changed in our world in 15 years, our mission has always remained the same. In all that we do, we work to make the lives of our students and our families better through the power of education. We help them to be Ready for College and Ready for Life.
This year’s report is focused on what we do best: Inspiring Futures. We hope you will take away the dedication and commitment of our employees to inspire our students.
Our founder, Jeremy Kane, started LEAD Academy in 2007 as a single fifth-and sixth-grade school of 92 students in North Nashville. Dissatisfied with the current school offerings available to families in the neighborhood, LEAD was founded on the belief that all students deserve access to a great education that prepares them for the future— regardless of their zip code.
LEAD Academy eventually grew into our flagship high school, with the first graduating class in 2014. Each year culminates in our pinnacle event, Senior Signing Day, where seniors declare publicly that they are ready for the next step in their journey. To this day, our mission continues to prepare EVERY student in our care with the skills and knowledge they need to be ready for college and ready for life. President Bill Clinton spoke at our first Senior Signing Day.
Based on strong academic performance at LEAD Academy, Metro Nashville Public Schools proposed the first ever district partnership with Cameron Middle School in 2011.
Unlike opening a fresh-start charter school, we worked with MNPS from the inside out, serving students already zoned to attend Cameron. Once a school in the bottom 5% statewide, Cameron became the first-ever successful turnaround partnership in the state of Tennessee. Cameron continues to serve students zoned to the MNPS Glencliff cluster and has been named a Reward School for student growth for two consecutive years (2017, 2018).
The Cameron model became foundational to LEAD’s work in Nashville and led us to partner with the state-run Achievement School District (ASD) at two more zone-enrolled schools— LEAD Brick Church and LEAD Neely’s Bend. In 2018, we were proud to see Neely’s Bend become the fastest improving school in the ASD.
After working with the district and families, LEAD identified a need to serve the growing population of Southeast Nashville where there were more students than seats. Opening Southeast Middle School in Antioch in 2013, LEAD Southeast is home to a diverse student population where over 20 languages are spoken on campus. Today, LEAD Southeast has grown to serve high school students as well, with our first graduating class in 2020.
Most of our students at LEAD Southeast are bilingual learners, creating a uniquely rich environment for both students and staff. Since its founding, Southeast middle and high school students have consistently grown academically at above average rates, according to state tests.
In 2019, LEAD announced a bold new initiative to transition to a performance-based compensation plan and increase what effective teachers can earn. Knowing that teachers are the most important in-school factor for student success, LEAD pairs this compensation plan with high quality coaching and development for all teachers and school leaders. We also announced 16 weeks of paid maternity leave for primary caretakers.
As we look ahead to the next decade of LEAD Public Schools, we are committed to attracting, growing and retaining the best teachers and leaders because we know that will mean great student outcomes. Our families and students deserve nothing less.
