The top reported proficiency rate is 31% in Social studies. The lowest is 15% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Lead Neely's Bend
LEAD Neely’s Bend is a public charter school in Nashville serving grades five through eight. It operates under the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission, a state-level authorizer that has grown its portfolio of schools across Davidson, Shelby, and Rutherford counties in recent years. For families considering a charter middle school in Nashville, this is one of the options within that expanding network.
The school’s student body is diverse. The largest group of students is Hispanic, followed by Black students, with a smaller share of white students and a very small share of students who identify as two or more races. The school serves grades five through eight, and its enrollment is concentrated in the upper middle school grades. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are classified as English learners was not available in the source data, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the level of support for those populations.
On state assessments, the school’s results are mixed. In math, roughly a quarter of students scored at the proficient level or above. In English language arts, the share was lower, with about one in seven students reaching that benchmark. Science proficiency was similar to math, and social studies was the strongest subject, with roughly three in ten students scoring proficient or above. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages results across all tested subjects and grades, places it above the midpoint among districts in Davidson County. That said, the absolute proficiency rates are low, particularly in English language arts, where the large majority of students are not yet meeting the state’s proficiency standard. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what academic supports are in place.
The school is a charter school, meaning it operates independently of the local school district and is authorized by the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission. That commission has grown quickly, expanding from a handful of schools to a larger network across multiple counties. For families, this means the school is part of a newer, growing state-level charter network rather than the traditional Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools system.
Housing in the area around the school reflects the broader Nashville market. Home values in the zip code are roughly in line with the state median, though they have seen a modest decline recently. Rental prices are also near the state median and have been relatively flat. The national 30-year mortgage rate was just above six percent at the time of this data, and the national unemployment rate was just above four percent, providing a general economic backdrop for families considering a move.
The school serves grades five through eight, so there is no high school graduation rate to report. The school’s grade band also means that state testing data covers only the grades served, and the school does not offer high school level programs such as Advanced Placement or dual enrollment. For families looking ahead, the transition to high school will be a separate decision, as this school does not extend beyond eighth grade.
The school is located in Nashville, a large and fast-growing city that is the state capital and a major economic hub. The city is known for its music industry, healthcare sector, and multiple universities. It has a consolidated city-county government and a sprawling development pattern, meaning car dependency is common across much of the area. The city has been among the fastest-growing in the country, and the charter school commission that authorizes this school has itself grown quickly, expanding from a small number of schools to a larger network across multiple counties in just a few years. For families considering this school, the broader context is a rapidly growing urban area with a wide range of economic and cultural opportunities, and a charter school system that is still relatively new and expanding.
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