Two Nashville schools launch college-level classes from Stanford, Howard universities

Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read

Students at two Nashville high schools are piloting a new program offering free college-level courses through Stanford and Howard universities.

Metro Nashville Public Schools announced its partnership with the National Educational Equity Lab on Thursday. The lab is a nonprofit that works to bring classes with college credits to historically underserved communities nationwide, according to a news release from MNPS. The credits will be transferable to other universities.

Maplewood High School and Antioch High School launched the pilot earlier this month, according to the release. MNPS is the first district in Tennessee to partner with the nonprofit, marking an expansion of the district's previous dual enrollment offerings.

The class of 2023 looks on during the Maplewood High School graduation ceremony in May.
The class of 2023 looks on during the Maplewood High School graduation ceremony in May.

An environmental science course through Howard University is underway at Maplewood High, while Antioch High students are part of a computer science course through Stanford. A select group of students are enrolled in the first round of classes.

MNPS director Adrienne Battle said she hopes the program boosts how many graduates pursue higher education, both locally and nationally.

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"Metro Nashville Public Schools is deeply committed to equity and excellence, and this groundbreaking partnership with the National Education Equity Lab will unlock incredible opportunities for our students," Battle said in the release. "We aim to show our students — many of whom come from diverse socio-economic backgrounds — that higher education is not only attainable but also achievable."

Graduating seniors turn their tassels during the Antioch High School class of 2023 commencement in May.
Graduating seniors turn their tassels during the Antioch High School class of 2023 commencement in May.

Leslie Cornfeld, founder and CEO of the National Education Equity Lab, said her organization's goal is to create equitable access for high school students to rigorous, high-quality college courses. The lab, which was founded in 2019, has reached nearly 15,000 students in 134 cities across 30 states so far, with upwards of 80% earning a passing grade.

"By pioneering this education justice effort in the state of Tennessee, MNPS is setting a precedent for what is possible when schools and universities work collaboratively to break down barriers to higher education," Cornfeld said in the release.

The new program comes alongside University MNPS, the district's program that partners with colleges and universities to prepare students for higher education and provide mentorship and access to scholarships, among other resources. MNPS currently partners with Tennessee State University, Lipscomb University, Belmont University, Nashville State Community College, and Fisk University.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville high schools offer college classes by Stanford, Howard