Tennessee Commission Unanimously Approves a Rocketship Charter School in Rutherford County

The TPCSC voted 6-0 to approve what will be Rutherford County’s fourth public charter school. (Photo Credit: Sky Arnold)

The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission voted 6-0 to approve what will be Rutherford County’s fourth public charter school. That decision Thursday afternoon overturns the Rutherford County School Board ‘s vote last July to deny the application from Rocketship Public Schools

Charter schools are free public schools operated by a non-profit entity like Rocketship under a “charter” with a local school district or the state. In Tennessee, charter applicants that are denied by local school districts have the option of appealing the decision to the commission, which Rocketship leaders did.

Rocketship: A Model for Personalized Learning

Rocketship Public Schools currently operates three elementary schools in Nashville. Each school provides students with a personalized learning model designed to help children receive exactly what they need for literacy and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skill building. Unlike most elementary schools, Rocketship also utilizes specialized teachers for humanities and STEM classes.

The charter operator’s expansion into Rutherford County will have the same model, eventually serving up to 600 students in grades K-5.

Rocketship Public Schools Executive Director Eric Daily says belief in Rocketship’s model is mirrored by the results the schools have produced.  The Rocketship model has produced positive results in Nashville, with multiple Rocketship schools outperforming comparable district-run schools in recent years.

“We deeply believe, and the results suggest, that having expert instruction from folks who are certified and endorsed in certain content areas helps accelerate learning,” he said.

Rutherford School Board’s Complaints

While a representative from Rutherford County did not speak at the commission meeting, the district did provide a statement that cited concerns in multiple areas, including some challenges the county’s other three charter schools have faced.

“The Rutherford County School Board (RCS) decision regarded concerns regarding academic plan and capacity, community support, and enrollment challenged experienced by charter schools in the same geographic area,” said the district in the statement.

Concerns with Rutherford County’s Data Analysis

Commission Member Eddie Smith offered feedback to Rutherford Schools before voting in favor of Rocketship, citing concerns that the district used old data in reviewing the charter application.

“Rutherford County Schools used unsubstantial data that didn’t seem to have cross-checking, so I would give the feedback that they might want to be more cautious about including data that is so old, and it looks like they’re communicating lack of community support from data from four months prior to the amended application,” said Smith.

Commission Chair Chris Richards also spoke in favor of Rocketship’s appeal, and the community support it has received.

More than 50 parents and community members attended last month’s public hearing and the commission itself received 174 comments in support of the school.

“I was struck by the community members supporting Rocketship who were looking for the school model in Rutherford County,” she said. “Rocketship is a very successful model for providing growth and proficiency for those students.”

Rocketship’s new school is scheduled to open next August, serving students living in the La Vergne and Smyrna neighborhoods of Rutherford County.