Nonpublic Schools
In his first State of the State address on March 4, 2019, Gov. Bill Lee said, “Tennessee must deliver a world class education and that education must be aligned with the needs of the job creators of today and tomorrow. To accomplish that, our students need more guidance, our teachers and principals need more support, and our parents need more choices.”
He continued, “Parents need more choices with respect to the education of their children and those options should be well-funded and highly accountable. Students have different needs and abilities, and our education system should mirror that diversity as best as possible.”
Today, Tennessee is home to more than 600 nonpublic schools, which includes private schools and home school umbrella programs. Private schools are primarily funded through school tuitions paid by families and private donations from individuals and organizations.
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) as authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, provides benefits to private school students, teachers and other education personnel, including those in religion-affiliated schools. Read more about these benefits.
Current List of Nonpublic Schools
Non-Public Schools List, updated May 24, 2023
Handouts: Fire Marshal Codes
Nonpublic School Categories
The State Board of Education (SBE) has designated five categories of private schools in Tennessee differentiated by their TDOE approval status or by the relevant school accrediting/membership agency and applicable state requirements. Nonpublic schools are categorized 1 to 5 based upon these characteristics:
Nonpublic School Category |
Description | Approved Accrediting Agencies |
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1 1-SP
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Schools approved by the Tennessee Department of Education. Special purpose schools that provide education for students while they receive short-term medical or transient care. |
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Schools approved by an accrediting agency that has been approved by the Tennessee State Board of Education. Schools holding full accreditation status with an approved agency are approved by the State Department of Education. If Category 2 is chosen, contact the accrediting agency of choice and apply for membership. If church-related, the accrediting agency generally starts the school as a Category 5 school and requires a candidacy period to become an accredited Category 2 school.
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Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Association of Classical & Christian Schools, Inc. Diocese of Nashville Catholic Schools Office Christian Schools International Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) National Luthernal School Accreditation Southern Union Conference of the Seventh Day Adventis Church (SDA) Tennessee Association of Christian Schools (TACS) Tennessee Association of Non-Public Academic Schools (TANAS) |
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Schools that are regionally accredited.
If Category 3 is chosen, contact one of the approved regional accrediting agencies and fulfill their criteria for candidacy. For established schools, the process for accreditation can take up to a year. For newly established schools, the process could take up to two years. During this candidacy period, often these schools start as Category 5 schools.
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Accrediting Commission for Schools Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC) Cognia (formerly AdvancED) Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA CESS) Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) Middle States Commission on Elementary Schools (MSCES) Middle States Commission on Secondary School (MSCSS) National Association of Independent School (NAIS) National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA) New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI) Tennessee Association of Independent Schools (TAIS) |
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Accelerated Christian Education, Inc. (ACE) Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Tennessee Alliance of Church-Related Schools Tennessee Association of Christian Schools (TACS) Tennessee Association of Church-Related Schools (TACRS) Tennessee Association of Independent Schools (TAIS) Tennessee Association of Non-Public Academic Schools (TANAS) |
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5
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Category 5 is generally selected for schools in a candidacy mode. Candidates for accreditation (to become a category 2 or 3 school) often begin at the category 5 level while completing the requirements of the state or accrediting agency. |
N/A
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You can find more information about categories 1-5 here.
The rules for nonpublic schools are found in section 0520-07-02.
Starting a New Nonpublic School
The window for applying to open a new non-public school in school year 2023-24 will begin on January 9, 2023. There are five (5) categories of non-public schools in Tennessee:
(a) Category I schools are those approved individually by the Department of Education. Special purpose programs which address a student’s education while receiving short term medical or transient care may also be approved as Category I-SP schools.
(b) Category II schools are those which are accredited by an agency whose accreditation process is approved by the State Board of Education.
(c) Category III schools are those which are regionally accredited.
(d) Category IV schools are those schools which are “church related” and exempt from regulations according to T.C.A. § 49-50-801.
(e) Category V schools are acknowledged for operation by the Department of Education.
See State Board of Education Rule 0520-07-02 for the requirements applicable to each category.
The first step in the application process for starting a non-public school in Category I, I-SP or V is to complete and submit the initial application. Applicants seeking to start a non-public school in Category II, III or IV should contact the applicable accrediting agency regarding its application requirements. Additional details regarding the application process is provided on the Nonpublic Schools Webpage. Scroll to the bottom and see the information under “Starting a New Nonpublic School” and “Required Forms for Nonpublic Schools.”
To be considered for school year 2023-24, an application and request for fire marshal inspection must be submitted by May 31, 2023.
Any questions regarding the application or this process may be submitted to Private.Schools@tn.gov.
To start a new nonpublic school in Tennessee, please follow these steps:
Step 1: Complete Initial application linked here for category I, I-SP or V. Applicants seeking to start a non-public school in Category II, III or IV should contact the applicable accrediting agency regarding its application requirements
Step 2: Obtain fire marshal approval. Division of Choice will need to initiate the fire marshal inspection. Once a space is identified for the school, complete the Fire Marshal Inspection Request form.
Additionally, a positive environmental report from the Department of Health and Environment is required. The Tennessee Division of General Environmental Health conducts inspections of school plants for sanitation and safety requirements. For further information, contact the Division of General Environmental Health at (615) 741-7206.
Step 3: All private schools must work directly with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to ensure background checks of each employee. More information can be found here.
Step 4: Ensure teachers have the proper credentials according to school category:
- Category 1 teachers must meet the same licensure and certification standards as those teaching in Tennessee public schools.
- Category 2 and 3 teachers must meet the licensure and certification standards set forth by their agency/association.
- Category 4 teachers must satisfy association requirements.
- Category 5 teachers must hold a baccalaureate degree, but are not required to have a teaching certificate.
Step 5: Category 1 schools must submit the T-File report once teachers are hired.
Step 6: Fulfill additional requirements based on category chosen. See requirements chart below.
Step 7: For Category 1 and 5 schools, once we receive an approved fire marshal report and all of the required documents are submitted to the Division of Choice, we will schedule a preoperational visit. If your school is approved a letter will be sent indicating approval status. For Categories 2-4, once the required documentation for the TDOE is submitted, as well as all of the requirements of the accrediting or authorizing agency are met, then the approval status will be given by the accrediting or authorizing agency.
Required Forms for Nonpublic Schools
Closing a Nonpublic School
Please submit the following form if a nonpublic school is closing.
Contact Information
Division of Choice
710 James Robertson Parkway
10th Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower
Nashville, TN 37243
Email: Private.Schools@tn.gov
Child Abuse Reporting Resources:
Tennessee Child Abuse Hotline
Call: 877-237-0004
Memo to Nonpublic Schools
Pursuant T.C.A. § 49-50-802, nonpublic schools shall provide parents and guardians with information about meningococcal disease and influenza (flu) and the effectiveness of vaccination against meningococcal disease and influenza (flu) at the beginning of every school year.
Meningococcal Vaccine Information Sheet
Influenza (Flu) Vaccine Information Sheet
Nonpublic School Directory Archives
The following directories include contact and demographic information reported by the non-public schools during each respective year.
Download PDF or Excel
Transporting Non-Public School Students
Non-public schools are not required to provide transportation for students. If a non-public school chooses to transport students to and from school, to school related or non-school related activities, it is essential that non-public schools understand and follow the laws, rules, and regulations on student transportation and driver licensure.