Republic Schools plans to more-than-quadruple in size over the next seven years, aided in part by money from the U.S. Department of Education, it announced Monday. But the growth may not be in Nashville.
Republic runs three middle schools and one high school in Nashville, and according to their test scores, Liberty Collegiate and Nashville Prep are among the
highest performers in the city and even the state.
But they’ve been under
increased scrutiny by charter skeptics on the school board for everything from curriculum choices to discipline practices. Founder Ravi Gupta says the political climate may determine where the organization uses its grant money to grow.
“That debate will obviously determine a lot about our desire to start future schools in Nashville,” Gupta says. “But the good news is we’ve been welcomed with open arms down in Jackson, Mississippi.”
This fall, Republic made its first move outside Nashville to open
Mississippi’s first charter school.
Gupta also plans to use the money to launch an operation in Louisiana. In total, he hopes to have 14 schools opened by 2022.
The U.S. Department of Education is giving money
to a dozen charter operators this year nationwide. In past years, Nashville’s LEAD Academy
has received grant money from the same program.
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