Metro Nashville Public Schools serves 78,040 students across 161 schools in Nashville, Tennessee's largest urban district. The district's enrollment reflects significant demographic diversity, with 34.8% Hispanic, 34.7% Black, 23.3% White, and 3.2% Asian students. Notably, 32.0% of students are English learners and 33.0% are economically disadvantaged, indicating substantial populations requiring targeted support services.
Academic performance metrics fall below state averages across measured indicators. Math proficiency stands at 32.9% compared to the state average of 41.0%, while reading proficiency reaches 31.5% against a state average of 37.5%. The graduation rate of 83.6% lags the state average of 94.0%, with a corresponding dropout rate of 13.0%. Chronic absenteeism at 23.3% represents a notable challenge affecting instructional continuity.
Per-pupil spending of $10,786.46 substantially exceeds the state average of $3,971, reflecting the district's significant resource allocation. This elevated spending level occurs alongside the identified demographic needs, suggesting resources directed toward serving high-need populations including English learners and economically disadvantaged students.
The district also serves 14.0% of students with disabilities. These combined factors—demographic composition, academic performance gaps relative to state benchmarks, and elevated chronic absenteeism—characterize Metro Nashville Public Schools as an urban district managing complex educational needs within Tennessee's public school system.
This summary was generated by AI from public data sources. Last updated May 5, 2026.
This data is aggregated from state and federal public datasets. While we believe it is accurate, we always recommend confirming it on the corresponding state or federal site. See Data Notes for more.
Total Students
78,040
Schools
161
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,786.46
Data Sources: NCES Common Core of Data, NCES F-33 Finance Survey, EDFacts
Federal Data Year: 2024-25
State Data Year: 2024-25
Note: Some data may be unavailable for certain districts or years. Proficiency rates reflect state-specific assessment standards.
Math Proficiency
32.9%
Source: Tennessee Department of Education, 2024-25 School Year. Letter grades are aggregated from school-level A-F grades. TVAAS data from Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System.