Ranked: BEST Elementary Schools and Middle Schools in Nashville TN [2022]

Nashville is a vibrant city that is bursting with opportunity and activities which makes it a fantastic place for anyone with a family. If you have school-aged kids in your family, choosing the right school can be very important.

Children and teens of Nashville attend schools that are in the Metropolitan Nashville Public School system, which serves around 85,000 students across 169 schools. There are also several private schools that are some of the highest-rated in the state. Nashville has plenty of great schools for your kids, so keep reading to find out more about the best schools in Nashville.

Best Elementary Schools in Nashville

1. University School of Nashville | 2000 Edgehill Ave., Nashville, TN

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One of the best private schools in Nashville is the fantastic University School of Nashville. The school has roughly 1,000 students in grades K-12 with a student-to-teacher ratio of 9 to 1. They have been rated highly for their academics and programs like the Young Naturalist program which encourages elementary students to be closer to nature. The tuition is in the $27,000 range for the highest grade offered and the school has been ranked by niche.com as the #1 Best Private School in Tennessee and the #1 Best Private K-12 School in Tennessee.

2. The Ensworth School | 211 Ensworth Ave, Nashville, TN

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If you’re looking for a great private school in the Nashville area then look no further than The Ensworth School which has about 1,100 students in grades K-12 and they have a student-to-teacher ratio of 7 to 1. Students from the school enjoy how the school provides them with a well-rounded education and an exciting learning environment that helps them gain valuable skills. Tuition is in the 31,000 range for the highest grade offered and they have been rated by niche.com as the #2 Best Private School in the Nashville Area and the #4 Best Private K-12 School in Tennessee.

3. Julia Green Elementary School | 3500 Hobbs Road, Nashville, TN

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One of the best schools in the area for younger children is Julia Green Elementary School which has around 400 students in grades K-4 and a student-to-teacher ratio of 13 to 1. It has a high focus on academics and it offers several classes beyond the regular academic program (including Chinese!) to give students an extra boost to their education. It has been ranked by niche.com as having the #48 Best Public Elementary School Teachers in Tennessee and being the #157 Best Public Elementary Schools in Tennessee.

4. Crieve Hall Elementary | 498 Hogan Rd., Nashville, TN

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Situated in the south part of the city is one of the highest-rated elementary schools in Nashville. Crieve Hall Elementary School has about 400 students in grades K-4 with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14 to 1. The school has a large number of clubs and activities for students to join including the Craft Club, Inventors Club, Garden Club, and Guitar Club. The school has been ranked by niche.com as the #4 Best Public Elementary School in Davidson County and the #140 Most Diverse Public Elementary Schools in Tennessee.

5. Percy Priest Elementary School | 1700 Otter Creek Rd., Nashville, TN

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Another amazing and highly-rated school in Nashville is the Percy Priest Elementary school. With approximately 500 students in grades K-4 and a student-to-teacher ratio of 15 to 1. Percy Priest has plenty of great opportunities for parents to get involved and they are a part of the Hillsboro School Cluster. It has been ranked by niche.com as the #154 Best Public Elementary School Teachers in Tennessee and the #190 Best Public Elementary Schools in Tennessee.

Best Middle Schools in Nashville

1. Valor Flagship Academy | 4527 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, TN

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One of the best charter middle schools in Nashville is the Valor Flagship Academy, which is located right near the downtown core. This charter school has nearly 900 students in grades 5-10 with a student-to-teacher ratio of 19 to 1. Students who have attended the school loved their rigorous academics and the amazing respect the students have for each other.

Parents enjoyed the Valor Compass teaching model that focuses on mental health, equality, and diversity. The school has been ranked by niche.com as the #1 Best Charter Middle Schools in Tennessee, #60 Best Public Middle Schools in Tennessee, and the #61 Most Diverse Public Middle Schools in Tennessee.

2. Harpeth Hall School | 3801 Hobbs Rd., Nashville, TN

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Harpeth Hall School is an all-girls private school that's located in the southwest area of Nashville. They have roughly 700 students in grades 5-12 (with about 300 in the middle school area) and they have an amazing student-to-teacher ratio of 7 to 1. The school has a great focus on the arts and they offer many different courses such as dance, music, and theater for students to express themselves. Tuition for Harpeth Hall is in the 30k range for the highest grade offered and the school has some excellent rankings. Niche.com has ranked the school as the #2 Best All-Girl High School in Tennessee, #4 Best High School for STEM in Tennessee, and the #5 Best High Schools for Athletes in Tennessee.

3. Meigs Academic Magnet | 713 Ramsey St., Nashville, TN

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This amazing magnet school is located in the downtown Nashville area and it has nearly 700 students in grades 5-8. Meigs Academic Magnet School has a high focus on academics and they also have various art classes that include classes like Band, Visual Arts, and Computer Arts. The school has a student-to-teacher ratio of 20 to 1 and they have been ranked by niche.com as being the #63 Best Public Middle School in Tennessee, #67 Best Public Middle School Teacher in Tennessee, and the #97 Most Diverse Public Middle Schools in Tennessee.

4. Head Middle Magnet School | 1830 Jo Johnson Ave., Nashville, TN

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One of the best public middle schools in Nashville is the Head Middle Magnet School which is located in the western downtown area of the city. It has roughly 500 students in grades 5-8 with a student-to-teacher ratio of 20 to 1. It has quite a few activities and clubs for its students along with several sports teams including Basketball, Football, Cheerleading, and Track. The school has been ranked by niche.com as the #105 Best Public Middle Schools in Tennessee, #114 Most Diverse Public Middle School in Tennessee, and it has the #150 Best Public Middle School Teachers in Tennessee.

5. John Trotwood Moore Middle School | 4425 Granny White Pike Nashville, TN

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John Trotwood Moore Middle School is located in the southern part of Nashville and it’s one of the best-rated middle schools in the area. It has just under 800 students in grades 5-8 and a student-to-teacher ratio of 17 to 1. The school is an International Baccalaureate school and it prides itself on its diversity. It has been ranked by niche.com as the #122 Best Public Middle Schools in Tennessee, #135 Most Diverse Public Middle Schools in Tennessee, and the #208 Best Public Middle School Teachers in Tennessee.

With so many amazing elementary and middle schools to choose from, it can be hard to decide which one is right for you. We recommend researching each school and the programs they offer to determine if they might be suitable for the students in your family. If you choose the school that your child is best suited to, you’re likely to have a happy student which also means a happy parent.

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