LEAD Neely's Bend School

LEAD Neely's Bend School is a public charter middle school in the Madison/Nashville area serving 291 students in grades 5–8, and it has quietly become one of the more improving schools in its corner of Nashville. Over the past three years, the school has climbed from the 17th percentile to the 26th percentile in statewide rankings — notably outperforming its own authorizing district, the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission, which sits in the bottom 10th percentile. Since LEAD starts at fifth grade while most nearby middle schools begin at sixth, direct comparisons are imperfect, but the trajectory is worth noting.

Math has become the school's clear signature strength. In 2025–26, LEAD posted 32.5% math proficiency, beating the Metro Nashville Public Schools average of 28.5% and far outpacing Madison Middle School (6.5%). Eighth grade math is even stronger at 44.4% proficiency. Social studies has also surged, jumping nearly 19 points in two years to 41.8% proficiency. Chronic absenteeism has plummeted from 25.6% to 11.6%, among the best rates in the area and far better than Two Rivers Middle School (29.1%) or Madison (31.6%). English learners and low-income students rank in the 56th–67th percentiles statewide, well above the school's overall standing, suggesting strong results for students who often face systemic barriers.

The biggest challenge ahead is English Language Arts, where 20.9% proficiency trails the district (28.3%) and state (40.6%) by wide margins, especially in 7th grade (13.0%). Science is a mixed picture: 5th graders exceed the district average, but 6th–8th grade scores lag. LEAD spends more per student ($20,921) than most nearby schools — Liberty Collegiate Academy spends $14,760 and V.G. Hawkins Middle School $14,110 — and that investment seems to be translating into attendance and academic gains. While Strive Collegiate Academy and V.G. Hawkins still lead in several subjects, LEAD is clearly moving in the right direction.