Nashville’s music industry, top universities, and health care trade often deflect attention from the significant achievement gap facing our public schools. Less than 25% of Nashville students are proficient in math and 40% are proficient in reading. In a city full of exceptional universities, very few of our students are graduating high school prepared to go college.

Still, there are many reasons to be optimistic. A placement region since 2009, corps members and alumni are already making huge strides. While last year 22% of Maplewood students were proficient in the algebra exam, corps member Jake Ramsey (Greater Nashville Corps ‘09) led 82% of his students to proficient and advanced in algebra. They outperformed students in Williamson County, a wealthy community just outside of Nashville. 

There has been an influx of great education reform talent to our area. Teach For America alumni Kevin Huffman (Houston Corps '92), the state education commissioner, and Chris Barbic (Houston Corps '92), the new superintendent of Tennessee’s Achievement District, bring a track record of success and the drive to implement bold changes to ensure we hold all students to high standards, and provide teachers and schools with the support needed to lead to academic success. Together, school leaders, teachers, and others committed to education reform are working to transform the prospects for our students and communities. 

While the work is hard, corps members love the sense of community Nashville’s small city feel offers. And because the cost of living is lower than in larger cities and outdoor activities abound, they enjoy a great quality of life.