Tennessee has no single state office that runs private schools. Each one is a church ministry, a nonprofit board, or an independent operator, and each sets its own tuition, calendar and admission rules. This page covers private schools across Tennessee, from Memphis and Nashville to small towns such as Ethridge and McMinnville. Read it before you call, so you know who actually oversees the school you are considering.

How Private Schools Are Overseen in Tennessee

The Tennessee Department of Education is the state agency with a role in nonpublic education. It does not operate private schools, and it does not grade them the way it grades public districts. Tennessee private schools are largely self-governing, and that shapes everything a family should check.

State law requires children between ages 6 and 17 to attend school, and a private school is one lawful way to meet that rule. Church-related schools and independent schools follow different reporting routes with the state. Ask any school which route it uses and whether its paperwork is current.

Accreditation is voluntary. Many schools choose review by Cognia, the Association of Christian Schools International, or an association of independent schools. A seal from one of these groups tells you an outside team has looked at curriculum, staffing and finances. A school without a seal is not necessarily weak, but you should ask more questions.

Early-childhood programs have a second layer of oversight. A preschool, kindergarten or weekday ministry that provides child care may need a license from the Tennessee Department of Human Services. Barbara K Lipman Early Childhood in Memphis and First Baptist Cleveland Weekday Ministry in Bradley County are examples of programs in this category. Ask to see the current license and the most recent inspection.

Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga: The Metro Picture

Tennessee's four largest metros hold most of the options, and each has its own character.

In Shelby County, the Poplar Avenue corridor stands out. Barbara K Lipman Early Childhood sits at 3771 Poplar Avenue in Memphis, and Madonna Learning Center is at 7007 Poplar Avenue in Germantown. Suburban Shelby County adds Bartlett Baptist Church Preschool on Kirby Whitten Parkway and Tipton-Rosemark Academy on Rosemark Road in Millington. Allow for real commute time between the suburbs and central Memphis at drop-off hours.

Davidson County mixes faith-based and specialized schools. Akiva School, at 809 Percy Warner Boulevard in Nashville, shows how religious communities here run their own day schools. Currey Ingram Academy on Murray Lane in Brentwood is a short drive from Nashville, just over the county line.

East Tennessee follows a similar pattern. In Knox County, Annoor Academy at 724 Fox Road in Knoxville is an Islamic school. In Hamilton County, Berean Academy on Berean Lane in Chattanooga is among the Christian schools in our listings. Across the four metros you will find Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim and nonreligious schools, so your first decision is the educational and faith setting you want.

Schools for Students Who Learn Differently

Specialized schools deserve a separate look. Currey Ingram Academy in Brentwood and Madonna Learning Center in Germantown both have a reputation for serving students who need more individual support. They are worth a call if your child has a learning plan or diagnosis. Admission at such schools often involves testing or documentation, and waitlists are possible. Ask which evaluation records you need and whether the program fits your child's current plan.

Small Towns and Rural Counties Across Tennessee

Outside the metros, the picture changes. Tennessee has 95 counties, and our listings reach 75 of them. Many small towns have only one or two schools, and most are tied to a church.

In Middle Tennessee, the listings include Bellwood Christian Academy in Murfreesboro, Academy For Academic Excellence in Clarksville, Agathos School of Columbia on Mapleash Avenue, Highland Rim Academy in Cookeville, and Cedars Of Lebanon Academy in McMinnville. Franklin Christian Academy lists a PO Box rather than a street address, so call 615-599-9229 to confirm where classes meet before you drive over. Hendersonville Bible Kindergarten also lists a PO Box.

In East Tennessee, you will find Apostolic Gospel Academy in Kingsport, All Saints Episcopal School in Morristown, Greeneville Adventist Academy, Providence Academy in Johnson, Kingston Academy, Fairview Christian Academy in Athens, and Christian Academy-Cumberlands in Crossville. In West Tennessee, Family Christian School at 1340 North Parkway East in Jackson serves Madison County.

In Lawrence County, the West Amish School on Buffalo Road in Ethridge reflects the Amish community in that part of southern Middle Tennessee. Amish schools serve their own families and do not work like open-enrollment schools.

Rural families should plan for distance. Private schools usually arrange their own transportation, if they offer any, and many do not run buses. A school forty minutes away may require a carpool plan. Class sizes are often small, which suits some children well but can limit electives, advanced courses and sports.

The search itself also differs. In metros, families compare schools through open houses and word of mouth. In small towns, the church bulletin, a pastor or a neighbor is often the first contact. Phone calls matter more than websites in those places, so call during school hours.

Checking a Tennessee Private School Before You Enroll

A short checklist saves time and money. Work through these steps for each school on your list:

Bring your child's most recent report card, immunization record and birth certificate to the first meeting. Many schools ask for these with the application, and Tennessee schools generally require proof of immunization at entry. Admissions at many schools open in the fall or winter for the following August, though dates differ, so start early.

Finally, compare more than one school. Visit at least two, even if the first feels right, and ask each how it handles discipline, homework and communication with parents.

Private schools in Tennessee are licensed and regulated by the state's department of education, which sets minimum standards for safety, curriculum, and accreditation while allowing institutions significant freedom in operations and admissions. Tennessee may also offer education savings account or voucher programs that provide public funding assistance to eligible families attending private schools.

Private Schools locations are available in 135 cities across Tennessee. They are spread across 75 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration of private schools include Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, reflecting larger population centers where demand for diverse educational options tends to support a wider range of private school institutions.

Families in Tennessee exploring private school options should contact each school's admissions office to request a prospectus, schedule a tour, and learn about financial aid availability, as tuition and assistance programs vary significantly from one institution to the next.

Private Schools by Counties

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Families in Tennessee comparing private school options should check each school's accreditation status through the state department of education and request standardized test score data, graduation rates, and college placement outcomes. Many private schools in Tennessee hold open house events in the fall that are open to prospective families without an appointment.

Browse Private Schools by county across Tennessee to find the nearest location.

Costs, Calendars and State Scholarships for Tennessee Families

Tuition at Tennessee private schools varies widely. A small church school in a rural county may charge a fraction of what a large college-preparatory school in Nashville or Memphis asks. We do not list tuition because each school sets its own rate and changes it yearly. Ask for the current fee schedule in writing.

Tennessee is divided into three grand divisions: West, Middle and East. Private school options cluster around Memphis in the west, Nashville and its suburbs in the middle, and Knoxville, Chattanooga and the Tri-Cities area in the east. If you live between those hubs, expect to drive farther and to choose from fewer schools.

Most private schools follow an August-to-May calendar, but start dates, holidays and early-release days differ from the local public district. Compare calendars before you commit, especially if you have children in more than one school. Church-run schools often close for religious holidays.

The state has also created funded options that can help with private tuition, including education savings programs and an account for students with disabilities. Eligibility rules, award amounts and application windows change, so check the Tennessee Department of Education website for current details. Participating schools must meet program requirements, so confirm that your school takes part.

Private Schools in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions

In general, no. The Tennessee Department of Education does not issue a blanket license that certifies the quality of every private school, so oversight depends mainly on the school itself and on voluntary accreditation. Schools still have to meet basic health, safety and fire rules. Preschool and child-care programs may also need a license from the Tennessee Department of Human Services. Before you enroll, ask the school which agencies and accrediting groups it answers to, and request copies of current certificates. A school that is open about its oversight is usually a good sign.

Possibly. Tennessee has launched state-funded programs that let eligible families put public education dollars toward private school costs. These include an education freedom scholarship that began in 2025 and a separate account program for students with disabilities. Earlier education savings pilots covered Davidson, Shelby and Hamilton counties. Income limits, award amounts and deadlines have changed over time, and not every private school participates. Check the Tennessee Department of Education website for current rules. Then ask each school on your list whether it accepts the scholarship and how it handles payment and deadlines.

Williamson County has 14 listings in our database, including Currey Ingram Academy at 6544 Murray Lane in Brentwood and Franklin Christian Academy in Franklin. The Franklin school lists only a PO Box, so call 615-599-9229 to learn where students attend before you visit. Because the county sits next to Nashville, many families also consider schools across the county line. Test the commute at actual drop-off hours, and ask each school about waitlists, since demand in fast-growing suburbs can exceed the seats available.

Yes. Our listings include the West Amish School on Buffalo Road in Ethridge, in Lawrence County. The county has 10 listings in total, and Ethridge alone has six, which is unusual for a town its size. Amish schools typically serve children from their own community through the early teen years, and they are not set up for walk-in tours. No phone number is listed for this school. If you have a real reason to make contact, approach respectfully, ideally through a neighbor or local contact who already knows the community.

Many do. The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association governs high school sports statewide, and member private schools compete in a division for nonpublic schools. Others play in church-school leagues or offer no varsity sports at all. Small schools in rural counties may travel farther for games and field fewer teams. If athletics matter to your child, ask which association the school belongs to, which sports it fields, and what academic or eligibility rules apply. Ask about practice times too, because some schools share fields and gyms.

Bring a birth certificate, an immunization record, the latest report card or transcript, and any testing or learning-support documents. Tennessee schools generally require proof of immunization at entry, and some private schools also ask for a physical exam or a teacher recommendation. If your child is leaving another private school, request records early and settle any unpaid balance, since some schools hold records until fees are cleared. When you call the new school, ask for its full application checklist and the deadline for each item.