University School of Nashville Innovation and Excellence since 1915
University School of Nashville Innovation and Excellence since 1915 A non-sectarian, independent college preparatory co-educational day school located in the heart of Nashville’s university area Founded in 1915 as Peabody Demonstration School 1,030 students in kindergarten through twelfth grades
When you visit us, you’ll notice that USN is no ordinary school. First you’ll see that our campus is surrounded by a university. Our proximity to Vanderbilt University and Peabody College for Teachers reminds us every day of our 100-year-old roots in the demonstration school culture of innovation and educational best practices. Our home also places us squarely in the university community of inquiry and intellectual life, a boon to our students and teachers.
Every day at USN, students come first. The kindergarten child contributing ideas as the class agrees upon rules for their community, the eighth grader researching a Change Project, the sophomore starting a new club—all know that what they say matters to the adults around them.
Came to USN in 2009 Grew up in Murfreesboro and went to Vanderbilt Though most of her interests come from her work, Christy is learning mindfulness, meditation, and yoga. Loves reading and walking in cities or forests with no particular destination Grew up on a small farm, so childhood memories include helping pull a calf when its mother was having a difficult delivery What does she love most about teaching at USN? “Working with people who are passionate about the work we do every day and committed to getting it right. I love being part of a community where it is safe to take risks as a learner, whether you are a student or a teacher. I love knowing that my kindergartners will be in the building for 12 more years, growing up around me.�
Christy Plummer kindergarten teacher
Came to USN in 2002 “From the deep South of two countries”— Ontario, Canada and Jackson, Mississippi Coach of the middle school Mathletics team, former coach of the middle school baseball team Bass player and sometime session musician, recording engineer, and humor writer Developer of a pre-algebra curriculum app that replaced the old textbook weighing down seventh grade backpacks Predators fan and season ticket holder Decided to major in math while waiting in line at the registrar’s office to declare another major What does he love about teaching at USN? “Daily interaction with some of the coolest seventh graders I could possibly imagine.”
Joel Bezaire seventh grade pre-algebra teacher
Come to USN to see an independent school that doesn’t fit the stereotype of independent schools. University School’s hallways and classrooms are filled with a remarkable diversity. We’re a school with a long history of embracing the benefits of a community where not everyone looks and thinks alike.
Came to USN in fifth grade Born in Chicago and has lived in Nashville since he was five A captain of the soccer team, he has played on two state championship soccer teams, his travel team and USN’s Loves helping younger kids through USN-as a Lower School Aide at USN, as a Big Brother to a student at Carter Lawrence School, as a member of the Writing and Service class that goes to Cameron Middle School Likes collecting urban sneakers, listening to music, disc jockeying, and trying new kinds of food What does he love most about USN? “I love the freedom. There is something for everyone, and the diversity here is incredible. No one stands above or below. Everyone wants to see the best you’ve got.”
Donald Hardin
Came to USN in fifth grade Lived in Italy and France until she was ten, attending French schools before she came to USN Is in Show Choir and on the Dance Team, performed in four drama productions this year, and plays center on the lacrosse team Considers herself a former Cub Scout since she went to all her brothers’ meetings and camp-outs when they lived in France Runs a day camp for lower school children at her house in the summer What does she love most about USN? “When I came to USN in fifth grade, I wrote in my journal, ‘Why is everyone so nice?’ New kids who come here and make fun of others learn pretty quickly that that’s not the way we do things at USN. Before USN, I wasn’t a dancer and never thought about studying law, but I tried a dance class and joined Mock Trial, and now I’ve found two new activities that I love.”
Elizabeth Dossett
Our culture of achievement means that USN students expect each other to work hard and do well. It goes beyond such external measurements as SAT and AP scores and college admissions, proud as we are of those benchmarks. Nor is it merely top-down. This culture encourages students to take pride in their own good work and that of their classmates.
Came to USN in 2007 Grew up in Chicago Teaches middle school theater, including improvisation, scene work, and audition preparation Coaches the high school cheerleading squad and directs the middle school musical and middle school play Acts in shows at the Tennessee Repertory Theatre and other local theaters Plays trombone in the high school band and loves creating, whether acting, singing, dancing, directing, choreographing, or designing posters In college, he was a drum major What does he love most about teaching at USN? “The people, the people, the people! We are a family.�
Bakari King theater teacher
While academics hold top priority at USN, our students also excel as athletes, artists, actors, and musicians. We don’t have a cookie cutter. Students feel encouraged to discover what interests them and then to pursue those interests, on or off campus. Some walk across the street to Vanderbilt for a class, some head down the street to one of our partner public schools to work with children.
photo by Aerial Innovations
Kindergarten through twelfth grade students use our 80-acre River Campus, fifteen minutes from Edgehill Avenue, for field sports and outdoor environmental education. USN students begin interscholastic competition in fifth grade, with 20 teams in middle school and 27 in high school. The River Campus includes a wetland used for science and environmental study.
Students find joy in learning at USN. This joy may lie in the quiet pleasure of intellectual discovery in a classroom, in challenges met on the athletic field, in visions realized in the studio, or in new skills acquired in the outdoors program.
Came to USN in 1989 From York, Pennsylvania and “still a Yankee” after more than 40 years here Has taught Western Civilization, AP Art History, Social Conscience, Italian, and many history independent studies, but it’s her AP European History course that has become a legend Paints in oils at every opportunity; has loved cooking northern Italian food since she learned it while living in Bologna in college Fluent in Italian, reads French and German Has taken 13 trips to Italy, one to Japan, and one along the Great War’s Western Front Worked in two political campaigns and was Governor Alexander’s ombudsman and staff aide What does she love most about teaching at USN? “The level of intellectual curiosity and the variety of experiences that students bring to my classes.”
Marc Lavine high school history teacher
Came to USN in 9th grade Born in Nashville Plays Ultimate Frisbee and belongs to the American Cancer Society Club, the Fly-fishing Club, and Student Council Plays the trombone in the Pep, Concert, and Jazz Bands, competes in the Science Olympiad, and writes for the school newspaper Loves fishing, swimming, and baking, also playing pickup soccer, basketball, and video games Enjoyed hiking Cold Mountain in the Smokies on the sophomore retreat What does he love most about USN? “My friends. I only came to school here last year, but I’ve already made best friends with some of the people who have been going to USN since kindergarten. It’s a very welcoming and friendly environment.”
Hayden Roche
Our students feel valued and inspired at USN, partly because we have such exceptional teachers. Students, alumni, and current parents consistently rank our faculty as USN’s greatest strength. In a recent survey by the National Association of Independent Schools, an amazing 99% of our high school students agreed with the statement, “I feel supported by teachers at this school.”
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Typically a third of the senior class receives recognition in the National Merit Scholarship competition.
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More than two-thirds of the seniors at USN are offered merit scholarships to college.
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In recent years the average Advanced Placement score has been 4 and the most frequent 5, the highest possible score.
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Nine out of ten seniors take at least one AP exam.
From our nurturing and joyous kindergarten to our high school preparing young adults for the challenges of college, USN is a journey toward maturity. Dedicated teachers foster the skills and strengths that students need to become increasingly independent and critical thinkers. Our alumni say that they are exceedingly well prepared for the demands of college, and not merely the academic ones.
Our Mission: University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of greater Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence. University School of Nashville 2000 Edgehill Avenue Nashville, Tennessee 37212 615/321-8000 www.usn.org
Photography by Kimberly Manz, except where indicated
University School of Nashville 2000 Edgehill Avenue Nashville, Tennessee 37212 615/321-8000 www.usn.org