Nashville's School and Camp Guide 2024

The top learning institutions and camps in Music City and beyond.

Belmont University

Belmont University’s summer day camps provide an enriching collegiate experience for school-aged kids. With a diverse range of options, your student can explore their interests and develop new skills in a fun and engaging environment. Whether your child is interested in sports, music, art, fashion or science, there’s a camp to fit their interests. Serving elementary through high school students with half and full- day options, Belmont camps offer hands-on, skill-building summer fun.

  • Sports: basketball, volleyball, tennis, soccer and more.
  • Music and Theatre: preparatory piano, piano invitational, vocal arts intensive, string crossings, winds band, guitar, theatre
  • Art: architecture, illustration, fashion, painting, photography and more. • Science: Beetles, Bugs and Butterflies; High school offerings in game design, data science, physics and engineering, psychology and more.

Learn more about summer camp offerings at www.belmont.edu/summer-camps.

Metro Nashville Public Schools

At Metro Schools, we’re committed to helping every student learn, grow and thrive. Through tailored, individualized teaching and learning, our talented teachers and staff ensure that every student is known, supported, cared for, and on a path to success.

In a remarkable year for Metro Schools:

  • We achieved a Level 5 TVAAS status for the second consecutive year, outpacing state averages in seven out of eight testing categories.
  • We opened two new schools and started construction on three more.
  • We won a $15 million federal grant that will help us launch additional magnet schools.
  • Our district has more than 150 schools, and each one provides students in every grade level with engaging and enriching academic programs.
  • Our nationally recognized Pre-K program establishes foundational skills for students beginning their educational journey.
  • Big dreams start young, and our elementary schools offer fun, hands-on learning experiences, including STEAM and gifted education classes.
  • Middle school students explore interests and expand academic skills, preparing for high school, where students pursue career pathways and earn industry certifications. Our graduates emerge as well-rounded young adults, prepared for college and career success.

It’s time to start your MNPS experience. Learn more today at mnps.org/experience.

TIP: Metro Schools are your neighborhood schools; what makes them shine is the reflection of our diverse and beautiful city shown through our students, staff and the vast opportunities of programs and experiences. If you haven’t visited, or it’s been a while, it’s time to take a second look.

St. Cecilia Academy

St. Cecilia Academy is a private, Catholic, college preparatory Academy for girls grades 7-12, seeking to grow in character, confidence, and creativity. Our independent, all-girl environment ennobles young women, equips them to excel, and inspires them to lead lives of integrity. Founded by the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in 1860, St. Cecilia Academy is the oldest continually operating high school in Nashville. SCA provides a rigorous liberal arts academic program in a Christ-centered environment. St. Cecilia is the patron saint of the arts, and SCA takes pride in its long tradition of excellence in the arts, reflected in its extensive offerings.

SCA offers the opportunity for young women to know their worth and potential. In the classroom or on the athletic fields, St. Cecilia girls have an abiding sense of purpose. They collect an impressive academic honors list to prepare for their future education at the next level. Last year’s senior class was offered over $12.2 million in merit aid awards for various talents, including academic achievement, leadership, athletics, service, and the arts. They are now attending 36 colleges and universities in 18 states and making a difference in the world everywhere they go. St. Cecilia Academy has been consistently recognized nationally since 2004 to the Catholic Education Honor Roll School by the Cardinal Newman Society.

TIP: Schedule your Day at SCA to experience what it means to be a St. Cecilia Girl! stcecilia.edu/admissions

Tennessee Technological University

Students come to Tennessee Tech University to live bold, fearless, confident and kind lives. Providing majors for today’s top jobs, Tech produces career-ready graduates known for their creativity, tenacity and analytical approach.

The university offers more than 200 majors in nine academic colleges, with bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate-level degrees. Tech faculty and staff are focused on putting students first and helping students express themselves through innovation and problem-solving. Most importantly, students can make a difference immediately with their ideas and passions, with a community of support to help along the way. With hundreds of clubs and activities,Tech students design the future in virtual reality labs and build new technology, are members of professional organizations and honor societies, join fraternities and sororities, and engage with a wide variety of faith-based and academic clubs.

Through experiential learning, internships and co-op assignments, students gain real- world knowledge and experience; and when they graduate, they add immediate value to their professions, communities and their employers. Tech has long demonstrated that accessibility and excellence go together. Tech graduates have the lowest average student debt of any public university in the state, and approximately two-thirds of Tech students receive some form of financial aid. Trailblazers, student tour guides who can share a view of the university from a genuine perspective, are ready to show you how you can Live Wings Up!

Schedule a campus visit with a Trailblazer to see Tech for yourself at www.tntech.edu/visit.

TIP: MORE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MORE STUDENTS. GUARANTEED. The Presidential Scholars program offers guaranteed scholarships to high school students with good to great grades and test scores. New freshmen who meet the requirements are guaranteed this scholarship if they apply for admission by December 15. Find out more at tntech.edu/freshmanscholarships.

Adventure Science Center

Your favorite K-6th grade summer camps are back at Adventure Science Center. At our camps, kids explore science, technology, and art while enjoying interactive demonstrations, experiments, and the science center’s award- winning exhibits. Your children can explore themes in a range of topics from wilderness exploration to superheroes, outer space to wizardry, and so much more.

You’ll find that Adventure Science Center staff are dedicated to unlocking every child’s potential. Through our camp programs, we actively demonstrate our mission by offering safe, enjoyable, and educational experiences where campers independently explore STEM concepts. By doing so, we hope to instill a lifelong love for learning and create an environment that promotes creative problem-solving, teamwork, curiosity, and critical thinking. This year we are offering camps weekly from May 27 - August 2, as well as before and aftercare. Register today. Themes, details, and more at adventuresci.org/camps.

TIP: The younger the age group, the faster their camps fill up.

Benton Hall Academy

Since 1977, Benton Hall Academy has been educating students who are exceptional learners. We take the time to help students reach their full potential in a positive, academically challenging environment. Benton Hall proudly accepts the Tennessee Department of Education IEA (Individual Education Account) and the Educational Savings Account (ESA).

We provide:

  • Small Student to Teacher Ratio
  • Enrichment Program
  • AdvancED Accredited
  • Emphasis on effective learning with an engaging curriculum
  • Celebration of diversity

Benton Hall Academy caters to students with unique needs. With a dedicated and supportive staff, the academy strives to create a nurturing and inclusive environment for all students. The staff at Benton Hall Academy goes above and beyond to support their students academically, emotionally, and socially. They are trained in working with individuals with unique educational needs and are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide personalized attention and care. Whether it’s through individualized learning plans, adaptive technology, or specialized teaching methods, Benton Hall Academy strives to meet the unique needs of each student.

Brentwood Academy

Providing students with an opportunity to pursue excellence while integrating faith, Brentwood Academy aims to nurture and challenge each whole person – body, mind, and spirit – to the glory of God. For more than 50 years, Brentwood Academy has encouraged students grades 6 through 12 to thrive in an environment that fosters community, integrity, and critical thinking, resulting in a transformational experience for students and their families. The school is located on forty acres in Brentwood, Tennessee and is open daily for tours by appointment. Visit BrentwoodAcademy.com/ starthere for more information.

TIP: KIDS LOVE SUMMER AT BA!

Come experience camps at Brentwood Academy! Our BA camp programs are an extension of our mission to nurture and challenge each whole person - body, mind, and spirit - to the glory of God. That’s why we offer nine weeks of amazing camp opportunities for your young athlete, dancer, artist, chef, engineer, or actor! Summer at Brentwood Academy features camps for both boys and girls ages 5-18. With many unique choices including “Lego-paloosa!” “Science Field Trips,” “Build, Dig, and Play,” and special theater experiences even producing an entire show in eight days, there’s truly something for everyone! Brentwood Academy is located at 219 Granny White Pike, Brentwood. For more information and to register, visit www.summeratba.com or email camps@brentwoodacademy.com. We can’t wait to see you!

Ensworth

Envision a vibrant, dynamic community committed to the search for truth. Ensworth provides a challenging program within a loving environment, creating an inspiring and joyful place where students develop the intellectual agility and self-confidence they need to grow and thrive. Ensworth believes that the key to developing lifelong learners is awakening and cultivating intellectual curiosity, and our curriculum engages students as active learners, encouraging their individual approaches to exploration and understanding. Students have opportunities to discover and develop their talents both inside and outside the classroom, and they flourish in an environment where their unique skills and interests are respected and nurtured.

At Ensworth, students are more than scholars, athletes, and artists—they are courageous and compassionate global citizens who are empowered to make a difference.

TIP: Learn more about our K-12, coeducational program at www.ensworth.com.

Harding Academy

Harding Academy is a coeducational, nonsectarian day school serving pre- kindergarten through eighth grade. With a focus on rigorous academics taught by nurturing teachers, Harding students thrive within a uniquely balanced and motivating environment. At the heart of the Harding Academy advantage is our fundamental commitment to the PreK-8 structure, which supports every student’s social, emotional, and academic needs in a developmentally appropriate manner.

We seek to serve a diverse community of families searching for the optimal pathways to some of the nation’s most challenging public and independent high schools, and who share our mission to foster thoughtful, lifelong learners and responsible, caring citizens. We encourage any interested family to contact our admissions office at 615-356-2974 or email admissionsoffice@hardingacademy.org to schedule a tour. We also offer a few facts and figures that well represent the success of our school and our students:

  • Grades kindergarten through fifth have a Learning Effectiveness Teacher in addition to their homeroom teacher.
  • PreK through fourth grade students study Spanish as their world language twice a week.
  • The science curriculum features robotics, programming, physics, chemistry and four science labs.
  • At the middle school level, Harding offers twenty-one competitive team sports with a no-cut policy, three world language offerings, student-led community engagement groups, and student-led clubs.
  • Harding Academy produces two student-led full-scale theater programs each year and has attained national status with its award-winning art program.
  • Harding Academy strives to inspire the mind and nurture the spirit in all we do. Our PreK-8 model provides the optimal environment in which to strike this balance. We serve each and every student with a whole-child approach and through challenging and developmentally appropriate curriculum, character education, and extracurricular activities.

Harpeth Hall

At Harpeth Hall, ambitions become achievements and girls become purposeful young women prepared to make a meaningful difference in their communities and the world. An independent school for students in 5th through 12th grades, Harpeth Hall designs every aspect of the school experience with girls in mind. The student council president is a girl. The captain of the state title-winning lacrosse team is a girl. The leader of our two-time World championship-qualifying robotics team is a girl. At Harpeth Hall, we know how girls learn best and provide an environment where our students are embraced for who they are and encouraged in their intellectual curiosity.

In the classroom, learning is an immersive experience. From power tools to telescopes, Harpeth Hall teachers bring lessons to life, elevating concepts beyond textbooks. Through premier programs such as Winterim, SEEK, Global Scholars, and Public Purpose, students develop global perspectives as they think outside of familiar boundaries and engage in a vibrant academic environment that values diversity of thought and cultivates respect for others’ views.

In the arts, students experience creative expression without limits. Our girls shine on stage as actors, screenwriters, and musicians, and school publications featuring original paintings, poetry, and prose showcase their artistic endeavors. In athletics, girls take healthy risks, push themselves beyond their comfort zones, and enjoy unforgettable experiences along the way. In 2022-2023, Harpeth Hall claimed five state championships for the second year in a row, with titles in cross country, riflery, lacrosse, rowing, and track and field. The strength and confidence our students develop as athletes prepare them for a lifetime of health and well-being.

TIP: A SUMMER FILLED WITH ADVENTURE

Whether it is serving a tennis ball or serving others, catching bugs or catching basketballs, stringing a violin or stringing gemstones, Harpeth Hall summer camps welcome girls in kindergarten through 8th grades for unforgettable experiences in academics, athletics, and the arts. Registration opens in January. To see all that is happening on Harpeth Hall’s campus this summer, visit harpethhall.org/summer-camp.

Battle Ground Academy

Battle Ground Academy is located in Franklin, Tenn., and is the No. 1 Private K-12 School in Williamson County.

Known for creating an elevated educational experience, we believe in the enormous potential within every child, and to that end, BGA will open the doors of its Early Learning Center for pre-K4 and pre-K5 students in Fall 2024. Our youngest students will actively participate in their learning; create meaningful connections between their school and their world; and find joy as they grow, play, and create in our language-rich learning community. Students will have daily opportunities to grow in math, literacy skills, phonemic awareness, and character development. Whether engaged in inquiry-based learning through a pre-K creative center or our challenging college preparatory K-12 curriculum, our students’ needs are recognized, supported, and encouraged by a caring faculty committed to igniting and nurturing student curiosity, intellect, and character.

TIP: At our new Teaching Center, we invest in the continuous development of our expert faculty, creating an environment where educators thrive and grow. Through innovative programs, collaborative spaces, and a commitment to excellence, we empower our faculty in all divisions to deliver impactful and inquiry-based instruction, ensuring an enriching learning experience for every student.

Currey Ingram Academy

Currey Ingram Academy, in Brentwood, Tennessee, is an exceptional independent, co-ed Junior Kindergarten – 12th grade day and boarding school for students with learning differences. Founded in 1968, Currey Ingram is committed to providing students with a personalized education that fosters an inclusive and supportive environment. Students with learning differences, such as dyslexia, ADHD, and executive functioning deficits, among other diagnoses, thrive in our small classes and from our research-based approaches. The school’s academic approach also integrates adaptive technology, social and emotional learning support and goals, and talented educators to create individualized learning plans for every student. Beyond academics, the school promotes a sense of community through extracurricular activities, encouraging students to explore their passions. Currey Ingram Academy’s dedication to empowering students to reach their fullest potential underscores its reputation as a global leader in learning difference education.

TIP: Currey Ingram has a center for OutReach Education, or CORE, that supports students who struggle with reading and math but don’t attend Currey Ingram Academy. Please visit our website for more information about these programs.

Deer Run Camps and Retreats

Deer Run Day, Overnight and Family Camps

Voted number one by parents, Deer Run offers premier Day and Overnight Camps for age 5 to completed 10th grade--plus Family Camps for all ages. During June and July, the 150-acre wooded valley comes alive with campers and families participating in exciting outdoor adventures, unplugging from their electronics, and connecting with each other to experience “Deeper Faith. Stronger Relationships. Greater Adventures.

Campers discover strengths, forge friendships, deepen relationships, and create lifelong memories while swimming in Spring Valley Lake, zooming across the valley on zip lines, playing games, and participating in worship and Bible study, and so much more! Our camp staff invests in the life of each child, encouraging them, and providing positive role models. Family Camp is an opportunity to be fully engaged with your kids in customized recreational choices and a variety of family-strengthening activities. Get away from the busyness of your regular routine and spend focused time with each other to create long-lasting memories, share adventures, explore nature, and become even more united. You will be treated to delicious meals, upscale accommodations, and incredible hospitality in the beautiful outdoors.

Learn more atdeerrun.camp/camps/ or call (615) 794-2918 if you have questions. See you at Deer Run this summer!

TIP: Use promo codes to save on summer camp registrations: NASHLIFE10 for $10 off Day Camps and NASHLIFE25 for $25 off Overnight Camps.

Episcopal School of Nashville

The Episcopal School of Nashville is a diverse, urban, independent school located in East Nashville. ESN’s mission is to nurture the joy of learning and the spirit of discovery in each of its students. ESN’s vision is to shape students who are intellectually, spiritually, and responsibly engaged with the place, community, and world they call home.

ESN’s goals are to develop each student’s:

  • Social and Emotional Intelligence
  • Valuable Habits of Mind - Perseverance, Gratitude, Joy, Resilience, and Curiosity
  • Problem Solving Skills - students who understand their roles as change agents in their local community and the wider world.
  • Value of Diversity and the Episcopal Tradition of inclusiveness. Strong academic Skills - students will be competitive and academically successful in the most rigorous college-preparatory high schools as well as in university and life beyond.
  • Exploration of spiritual practices, cultivation of a spiritual identity, and an understanding of the richness of religious traditions in our world.

When our students graduate from ESN, they will possess a set of experiences and values that help define who they are and distinguish them from their peers.

Montgomery Bell Academy

Montgomery Bell Academy offers more than 100 different camps and classes for boys and girls ages 4 and older. The summer season is highlighted by the All-Sports Camp, a one week all day camp for boys in 1st-6th grade. At All-Sports Camp, boys participate in a number of fun sports throughout the day and lunch is provided. MBA also offers weekly camps for baseball, basketball, football, golf, dodgeball, lacrosse, wrestling, soccer, tennis, rifle, and more.

In addition to sports camps, MBA offers a full summer of Enrichment Camps. Lego and 615-Science are two camps that sell out frequently. Other popular Enrichment Camp options include Summer Science Experience, Little Explorers Camps, Cardboard Land, and Bloxels Video Game Design. Finally, MBA continues to offer a great selection of Coed Academic Prep Classes with courses for debate, writing, math, language, and study skills.

For more information, please visit www.montgomerybell.edu/camps.

Overbrook Catholic School

Overbrook Catholic School (OCS), located on 83 acres in the heart of Nashville, makes learning come to life. From a mini-farm to an academic-enrichment program to Catechesis of the Good Shepherd instruction, OCS is committed to forming the whole child. Faculty and staff focus on the rich harmony of faith and reason, forming leaders grounded in virtue stemming from friendship with Jesus Christ.

A prekindergarten-3 through sixth-grade co-educational experience, the academically-rigorous approach emphasizes that true learning leads to wisdom. Whether ranking second nationally in math or taking home 91 forensics awards in one season, Overbrook Catholic students have a contagious joy. Even following a difficult test or close basketball game, their joyful disposition shows a rooted identity. Overbrook Catholic School is a private, independent school owned and operated by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia since 1936. OCS offers small class sizes, multi-layered support and community, and diverse afterschool programming.

TIP: Want to see the Dominican Difference for yourself? Schedule a tour at overbrook.edu/admissions.

Saint Ann School

Your child will soar at Saint Ann Catholic School because we are an environment infused with the love of Christ. Where your child’s uniqueness is encouraged as they pursue academic excellence, engage in service for others, and thrive in their pursuit for peace and justice. Saint Ann School serves approximately 215 students in grades PreK3 through 8th grade.

The best way to understand the unique qualities of a Saint Ann School education is to experience it first hand. Therefore, we suggest you schedule a personalized tour of our campus. At your school tour we will provide all registration information. Following your tour we are happy to schedule a shadow day for your student. This is a wonderful way for your child to experience life at Saint AnnSchool with his or her future classmates.

Visit us online at www.saintannparish.com/school to learn more!

St. Paul Christian Academy

St. Paul Christian Academy is a co-educational, interdenominational, independent, elementary school (junior kindergarten to 6th grade). At St. Paul, we walk with parents to establish a permanent foundation for our students so that they might flourish by pursuing academic excellence, a passion for Christ, and an ever-deepening understanding of their call to be leaders who uniquely shape the world in which they live. We form this foundation by creating a place filled with childlike wonder where your child is known, loved, nurtured, and challenged to be his or her best.

We hold high expectations for our students, and our nurturing environment helps them meet those expectations to reach their highest potential. As a result, our students are well prepared for acceptance into the most competitive college- preparatory schools in Nashville. At the center of everything we do is our center pillar, passion for Christ; we desire all of our students to come to know and love God, understand his Word, and develop the wisdom, courage, and strength to walk in His ways. We believe that God is calling our students to become Christian leaders in their homes, at their schools, in their future careers, and throughout their lives. We equip our students to understand Christian leadership, and we give them opportunities to practice leading; students lead chapel programs, help keep our campus clean, participate in service at every grade level, and mentor younger students in our buddy program. Additionally, in their capstone year, our sixth graders have new, daily opportunities to serve our school as they prepare to be leaders in their next schools and beyond.

Templeton Academy

Discover Templeton Academy, an independent private school serving Grades 5-12 in downtown Nashville! Our first foundational pillar is Core Advisory, where students engage in social-emotional learning because we recognize education should be for the whole person. Our second pillar is Project Based Learning, because we understand students learn best by doing. Finally, we use our City as a Classroom as our third pillar, not only to understand but also to participate in the real-life, real-time connections between life and learning. Templeton Academy was founded to revolutionize the way students learn by mentoring the critical thinking and problem-solving skills they need to thrive in college, career, and life. We welcome young people from all backgrounds and seek to nurture them into purpose-driven lifelong learners who use their gifts in a way that brings them joy and serves others. Big things happen at a small school -- come see what we can do!

TIP: There is no such thing as bad weather, as long as you have good clothing choices! At Templeton Academy, students navigate the city as a classroom with weekly field trips on Fridays where destinations include the Frist, Lane Motor Museum, and more!