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W.A. Bass Alternative Learning Center

Q: Is W.A. Bass Alternative Learning Center a good school?

W.A. Bass Alternative Learning Center ranks in the bottom 6.5% of Tennessee high schools.

Q: How many students attend W.A. Bass Alternative Learning Center?

In the 2024-25 school year, 68 students attended W.A. Bass Alternative Learning Center.

Q: What is the racial makeup of W.A. Bass Alternative Learning Center?

Students at W.A. Bass Alternative Learning Center are 72% African American, 22% Hispanic, 3% White, 1% American Indian, 1% Two or more races.

Public Grades 9-12

374^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 400 Tennessee High Schools

Better than 6% of Tennessee high schools

Summary

W.A. Bass Alternative Learning Center is a small alternative public high school in Nashville, TN, serving just 68 students in grades 9–12 as part of Metro Nashville Public Schools. The school currently ranks 374th out of 400 high schools in Tennessee, placing it in the 6th percentile with a 0-star rating. The most striking issue facing the school is chronic absenteeism: over the past five school years, the rate has ranged from 85.7% to 92.0%, meaning roughly nine out of ten students are missing substantial amounts of school. In 2024–2025, the rate was 85.7%, compared to 23.3% for the district and 18.3% for the state. This puts W.A. Bass in stark contrast with nearby schools like Martin Luther King Junior School, which has a chronic absenteeism rate of only 5.1%.

Academic proficiency at W.A. Bass is critically low. On the few state tests reported, only 6.9% of students scored proficient in English II and 5.9% in Integrated Math II — roughly 51 and 26 points behind the state averages, respectively. Nearby Early College High School posts English II proficiency of 87.5%, while W.A. Bass sits at 6.9%, a gap of over 80 points. Even Pearl-Cohn High School, which also struggles, has proficiency rates roughly 4 to 5 times higher than W.A. Bass.

The school does have a very low student-teacher ratio of about 7 students per teacher, which suggests staffing is available for intensive support. However, the data indicate that students are not consistently present to benefit, and the school is part of a cluster of alternative programs in West Nashville — including The Academy at Old Cockrill and Transitions at Bass School — that all serve students with high needs and face similar challenges. While there has been a slight improvement in absenteeism since 2020–2021, academic outcomes remain extremely low, making attendance and student engagement the most essential issues to address.

Students ?

7.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

79.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5200 Delaware Avenue
Nashville, TN 37209

(615) 298-3278

District: Metro Nashville Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

African American:

72.1%

Hispanic:

22.1%

White:

2.9%

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At a glance

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 8 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Tennessee average (6% vs 43% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (6th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (86% vs 18% Tennessee)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school6%

District avg33%

Tennessee avg43%

374^th of 400

Tennessee public high schools ?

Bottom 6%

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

27^th of 29High Schools in the Metro Nashville Public Schools

126^th of 141Metro Nashville Public Schools among Tennessee districts

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

English II7%-51 vs state

Integrated Math II6%-26 vs state

★

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Schools Near W.A. Bass Alternative Learning Center

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				TNReady Mathematics (2026)				TNReady English Language Arts (2026)				TNReady Algebra I (2026)		TNReady Algebra II (2026)			TNReady Biology I (2026)					TNReady Integrated Math I (2026)						TNReady Integrated Math II (2026)						TNReady Integrated Math III (2026)					TNReady US History (2026)					TNReady English I (2026)			TNReady English II (2026)				TNReady Science (2026)				TNReady Social Studies (2026)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2016)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	TNReady Mathematics 6th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 7th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	TNReady English Language Arts 6th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 7th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 8th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts All Grades	TNReady Algebra I 9th Grade	TNReady Algebra I All Grades	TNReady Algebra II 11th Grade	TNReady Algebra II 12th Grade	TNReady Algebra II All Grades	TNReady Biology I 9th Grade	TNReady Biology I 10th Grade	TNReady Biology I 11th Grade	TNReady Biology I 12th Grade	TNReady Biology I All Grades	TNReady Integrated Math I 7th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math I 8th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math I 9th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math I 10th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math I 11th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math I All Grades	TNReady Integrated Math II 8th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math II 9th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math II 10th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math II 11th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math II 12th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math II All Grades	TNReady Integrated Math III 9th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math III 10th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math III 11th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math III 12th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math III All Grades	TNReady US History 9th Grade	TNReady US History 10th Grade	TNReady US History 11th Grade	TNReady US History 12th Grade	TNReady US History All Grades	TNReady English I 9th Grade	TNReady English I 10th Grade	TNReady English I All Grades	TNReady English II 10th Grade	TNReady English II 11th Grade	TNReady English II 12th Grade	TNReady English II All Grades	TNReady Science 6th Grade	TNReady Science 7th Grade	TNReady Science 8th Grade	TNReady Science All Grades	TNReady Social Studies 6th Grade	TNReady Social Studies 7th Grade	TNReady Social Studies 8th Grade	TNReady Social Studies All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
W.A. Bass Alternative Learning Center	Public	9-12	5200 Delaware Avenue	Nashville	37209	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 298-3278	110	14	7.7	79.3%	10 (9.1%)	88 (80.0%)	11 (10.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	10.3	374^th of 400 public high schools	6.5%					(n/a)														< 5%	< 5%			< 5%			< 5%			< 5%			6.9			5.9			< 5%		< 5%			< 5%		< 5%	< 5%		< 5%	7.1			6.9
W. A. Bass Adult Program School	Public	9-12	5200 Delaware Avenue	Nashville	37209	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 298-3278	283	4	70.7	54.9%	35 (12.4%)	174 (61.5%)	67 (23.7%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.8%)								(n/a)
Transitions at Bass School	Public	9-12	5200 Delaware Avenue	Nashville	37209	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 298-3278	20	2	8.8	75.7%	0 (0.0%)	16 (80.0%)	3 (15.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (5.0%)								(n/a)																																	< 5%		< 5%			< 5%		< 5%																$51,105	$837	$49,825
The Academy at Old Cockrill	Public	9-12	610 49th Avenue	Nashville	37209	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 298-2294	31	7	4.2	82.2%	6 (19.4%)	22 (71.0%)	3 (9.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																																			< 5%					10.0																$61,746	$1,459	$59,833
MNPS Virtual School	Public, Virtual	6-12	160 Rural Avenue	Nashville	37209	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	No	Yes	No	(615) 463-0188	152	17	9.0	28.7%	70 (46.1%)	60 (39.5%)	16 (10.5%)	4 (2.6%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	40.8	241^st of 400 public high schools	39.8%		48.8	184^th of 389 public high schools	52.7%	57		58.3		48.3		58.3	45.5	51.6							36.8			37.5			35.3			42.1			16.7			19.2			5.0		12.0			26.3		25.0	20.0		20.0	67.9			67.9		75.0	72.7	67.7		66.7	72.7	67.7	$22,910	$837	$21,634
Nashville Big Picture High School	Public	9-12	160 Rural Avenue	Nashville	37209	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 353-2081	150	16	9.2	60.2%	18 (12.0%)	112 (74.7%)	13 (8.7%)	2 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	4 (2.7%)	27.4	297^th of 400 public high schools	25.8%		25.7	301^st of 389 public high schools	22.6%	4															24.0			29.6			12.9			12.9			10.7			16.7			13.8		13.8			19.2		22.2	24.2		24.2	57.1			57.1									$31,197	$1,242	$29,163
Early College High School	Public	9-12	120 White Bridge Road	Nashville	37209	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(629) 999-6344	160	12	13.1	43.2%	43 (26.9%)	77 (48.1%)	31 (19.4%)	5 (3.1%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	2 (1.3%)	91.6	15^th of 400 public high schools	96.3%		84.5	34^th of 389 public high schools	91.3%	19														78.9				78.9			58.6			60.0			71.9			75.6		≥ 95%			87.5						63.2		63.2	91.3			87.5									$19,240	$893	$17,904
Pearl-Cohn High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	904 26th Avenue North	Nashville	37208	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(615) 329-8150	545	32	17.0	89.7%	7 (1.3%)	479 (87.9%)	39 (7.2%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (2.9%)	23.2	322^nd of 400 public high schools	19.5%		14.9	343^rd of 389 public high schools	11.8%	21														34.6	30.5			32.7			15.4			15.4			27.6			28.2			18.5		20.2			12.7		14.5	8.9		8.9	33.6			32.5									$18,830	$1,785	$16,330
Martin Luther King Junior School	Public, Magnet	7-12	613 17th Avenue North	Nashville	37203	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(615) 329-8400	1,219	60	20.2	33.4%	583 (47.8%)	384 (31.5%)	114 (9.4%)	101 (8.3%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	34 (2.8%)	97.2	6^th of 400 public high schools	98.5%		97.8	1^st of 389 public high schools	99.7%	5		56.0	91.2	83.3		85.3	71.4	78.1						92.0				92.0		92.7	84.5			87.4		≥ 95%	94.2			≥ 95%		≥ 95%	87.7		90.6			92.3		92.3	88.3		88.3	≥ 95%			≥ 95%		92.7		92.7		≥ 95%	84.5	90.0	$14,856	$856	$13,262
Hume - Fogg High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	700 Broadway	Nashville	37203	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(615) 291-6300	893	48	18.7	26.5%	513 (57.4%)	149 (16.7%)	102 (11.4%)	99 (11.1%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	28 (3.1%)	97.8	4^th of 400 public high schools	99.0%		97.5	2^nd of 389 public high schools	99.5%	2														≥ 95%				≥ 95%			84.6			84.6		≥ 95%	94.5			≥ 95%	≥ 95%	95.0	89.2		94.4						91.7		91.7	≥ 95%			≥ 95%									$15,512	$866	$14,067

Frequently Asked Questions about W.A. Bass Alternative Learning Center

Is W.A. Bass Alternative Learning Center a good school?

W.A. Bass Alternative Learning Center ranks in the bottom 6.5% of Tennessee high schools.

How many students attend W.A. Bass Alternative Learning Center?

In the 2024-25 school year, 68 students attended W.A. Bass Alternative Learning Center.

What is the racial makeup of W.A. Bass Alternative Learning Center?

Students at W.A. Bass Alternative Learning Center are 72% African American, 22% Hispanic, 3% White, 1% American Indian, 1% Two or more races.

What district is W.A. Bass Alternative Learning Center in?

Metro Nashville Public Schools

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Latest Tennessee data All new data »

2025–26 TNReady test scoresAug 25, 2026

2024–25 dropout ratesApr 2, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataFeb 27, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataDec 18, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Tennessee Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.