Statements

Mission

Through rigorous curriculum, high quality instruction, and positive character development, Purpose Academy ensures that all kindergarten through grade four students achieve the academic skills, knowledge, and ethical foundation to be set on the path to college.

Background

Purpose Prep provides an academically challenging, disciplined, and joyful elementary school to children of Nashville. With an intensive focus on the acquisition of essential literacy skills, Purpose Prep provides targeted and rigorous instruction in each core subject to meet the academic needs of every scholar. Purpose Prep holds scholars accountable for demonstrating excellent behavior by teaching them the character skills necessary for their success, specifically the school's RISE with Purpose values - Purpose, Respect, Integrity, Self-Determination, and Excellence."Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only power of concentration, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate." This statement by Martin Luther King, Jr. captures Purpose Prep's vision of education. We instill in Purpose Prep scholars a strong academic and character foundation that firmly underpins school and life success. We nurture intelligence, grow character, and set the objective high. Purpose Prep scholars read, write and speak at proficient and masterful levels in the elementary grades that set a foundation towards high levels of learning throughout middle and high school, and on the path to college. We welcome the heightened accountability required of a charter, and we drive all programmatic and administrative decisions to dramatically advance our mission.

Impact

Purpose Prep is an academically challenging, disciplined, and joyful school in Nashville, TN. Unanimously authorized by the Metropolitan Board of Education, Purpose Prep opened its doors to an inaugural class of 90 Kindergarteners in the fall of 2013. Since then, we have grown to add a grade level every year thereafter to educate Kindergarten through fourth grade students by 2017. For the upcoming 2022-23 year, we are excited to have been approved to add fifth grade to our model! This brings our total enrollment to 450 students. Purpose Prep is committed to being one of the best elementary public schools in our nation. We will achieve our mission by ensuring every scholar achieves the academic skills, knowledge, and ethical foundation that will set them on the path to college.

Needs

Purpose Prep devotes every financial resource towards achieving our mission. At Purpose Prep, a little goes a long way: $25 1 School Supplies Package for a Purpose Prep Scholar (Total Need: 450) $100 1 Uniform for a Purpose Prep Scholar (Total Need: 450) $500 1 Classroom Computer (Total Need: 450) $1,500 PE Equipment for Purpose Prep Scholars $3,000 Purpose Prep Field Trips $5,000 Art Supplies for Purpose Prep Scholars $10,000 Purpose Prep Library Books $50,000 Scholar Transportation Every dollar contributes to our scholars' path to college - support us by contributing to our mission today.

CEO Statement

Dear Purpose Prep Families, Friends, and Supporters, We are honored to welcome you to Purpose Preparatory Academy Charter School. Purpose Prep is an academically challenging, disciplined, and joyful school in Nashville, TN. Educating students in grades K-5, Purpose Prep is committed to being one of the best elementary public schools in our nation. We will achieve our mission by ensuring every scholar achieves the academic skills, knowledge, and ethical foundation that will set them on the path to college. We appreciate your interest in Purpose Prep. We know that our success as a school depends on the support of our families, friends, and supporters far and near. We have high expectations for the members of our community, and in turn, you can expect a lot from us. Purpose Prep upholds a high standard for excellence, and every school member understands and is driven by our mission. Our school model ensures an intensive focus on the acquisition of essential literacy skills, providing targeted and rigorous instruction in each core subject to meet the academic needs of every scholar. Purpose Prep holds scholars accountable for demonstrating excellent behavior by teaching them the character skills necessary for their success, specifically the school's RISE with Purpose values - Purpose, Respect, Integrity, Self-Determination, and Excellence. By instilling in scholars a strong academic and character foundation that firmly underpins school and life success, Purpose Prep sets a foundation towards high levels of learning throughout middle and high school and on the road to college. On behalf of the founding team of Purpose Prep, we look forward to partnering with you and working together to ensure that the children of Nashville receive the excellent education they deserve to achieve their future goals and dreams. With purpose, Lagra Newman, Founder and Head of School

Board Chair Statement

Charlandra Watson, Board ChairThroughout my childhood, I was always fortunate to have parents that were constantly engaged in my education and schools and teachers that were equally committed to my success. I, on the other hand, was not always as engaged and committed as my many stakeholders might have liked, and without that assistance throughout my youth, I could have easily fallen through the cracks and not gone on to college and later graduate school. Upon meeting Lagra Newman and seeing her vision of a school that would not let children fall behind or be forgotten, it not only motivated me to get involved in the school but it also changed my perspective on the state of education in this country. I truly have come to believe that inequality of educational opportunities is one of the greatest social injustices that exist in our society today. Schools like Purpose Prep are not just closing the education gap they are eliminating it all together. What has also made such a lasting impact on me is that the school has achieved these unprecedented outcomes without sacrificing the joy, enrichment and, yes, even occasional silliness that is so important in developing the whole child. For all of these reasons I consider being a part of the founding of Purpose Prep one of my proudest achievements and I know that I share these sentiments with my fellow founding board members as well as those that have joined the organization after the school opened its doors. This work is never easy, but by transforming the lives of so many children that might otherwise be lost in the shuffle, we not only provide opportunities for those scholars but also for the positive transformation of our community as a whole.

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Education  - Charter Schools
Secondary Category:	-
Tertiary Category:	-

Areas Served

Open to students throughout Nashville, we are located in North Nashville where academic disparities are chronic. Families deserve a quality elementary like Purpose Prep that will successfully address the academic gaps. Purpose Prep aligns with the MNPS priority of providing high quality school options at the elementary level for families in North Nashville, and our strong academic program enables us to close the academic gaps of scholars by the end of kindergarten.

TN - Davidson