LEAD Public Schools2015-2016 ANNUAL REPORT

2007 LEAD Academy Middle School opens with 92 5th and 6th graders.

2010 LEAD opens the first charter high school in Nashville.

2011 LEAD Public Schools partners with MNPS to convert Cameron Middle School to a LEAD Public School.

2012 LEAD partners with Achievement School District to convert Brick Church Middle School to a LEAD Public School.

Founded Here.

Who we were . . .

2

LEAD Public Schools is a network of tuition-free public charter schools in Nashville, Tennessee that operate

both “fresh start” schools and “zoned-enrollment” turnaround schools for students in grades 5-12.

LEAD Academy’s first senior class and one of our earliest donors.

2013 LEAD opens LEAD Prep Southeast with an initial class of 5th graders.

2014 LEAD celebrates first senior class with 100% college acceptance to a four-year college or university.

2015 LEAD Academy Class of 2015 repeats this accomplishment.

LEAD partners with Achievement School District to convert Neely’s Bend Middle School to a LEAD Public School.

2016 LEAD Academy celebrates the third consecutive year of 100% college acceptance by the senior class.

LEAD Public Schools prepares all of our students with the knowledge and skills to succeed in college and in life.

Focused Here.

LEAD by the Numbers 6 Teachers 7 College Bound 10 Donors 12

“ LEAD gave me hope and opportunity. LEAD exposed me to great colleges and has helped me face tough challenges.” — KAYLA BUCKNER ’16

What we d0 . . . Wh0 we ARE . . .

Growing to 3,000 STRONG I LEAD because I am

CourageousI LEAD because I am

CommittedI LEAD because I am

DisciplinedI LEAD because I am

Self-ReliantI LEAD because I

Serve Others

4

Today, LEAD serves more than 2,100 families and is on track to grow to serve

more than 3,500 students in the next five years. Through rigorous academics

focused on preparing students for success in college and career endeavors,

we have developed a program that serves all students and inspires them to

follow their dreams. We set high expectations in both academic achievement

and character development. We provide personalized college counseling,

access to technology resources, and targeted interventions for each student.

We place a strong focus on the social emotional growth of our scholars,

one framed by our five-part Ethos and includes a safe and enriching school

culture, gender based advisory, and a commitment to the arts, athletics,

and extracurricular activities.

I LEAD because I am

CourageousI LEAD because I am

CommittedI LEAD because I am

DisciplinedI LEAD because I am

Self-ReliantI LEAD because I

Serve Others

Greetings from LEAD Public Schools,

As we begin our 10th year of educational service to our city, we are honored to share our success in the 2015–2016 Annual Report.

Our LEAD Academy Class of 2016 is the third consecutive senior class to earn 100 percent acceptance to college — the hallmark of a LEAD college preparatory education pursued at all five of our schools. This means, in short, that every single LEAD graduate has been accepted to college, a true testament to our mission: we prepare all of our students with the knowledge and skills to succeed in college and in life.

The 2015–2016 school year began with the news that three LEAD campuses: LEAD Academy High School and Middle School, as well as LEAD Southeast, were all named Reward Schools for Growth. It ended with the news that one of our high school teachers, Melissa Martens, was named a Blue Ribbon teacher; less than 1% of Davidson County teachers earn this honor. We also saw our first graduate earn a full athletic scholarship when DeMarco Jackson ’16 committed to Coker College.

As Nashville’s largest non-profit charter management organization, we serve the needs of more than 2,100 students across the city at five distinct schools: Brick Church, Cameron, LEAD Southeast, Neely’s Bend and LEAD Academy. It is a true honor and privilege to do our part in service to Nashville and the greater Davidson County community.

For the 2016–2017 school year, we’ve continued our commitment to families to the north of the city in Madison by adding a sixth-grade at Neely’s Bend as part of our partnership with the Achievement School District. To the south of the city, we are pleased that LEAD Southeast is now a fully-grown middle school serving the needs of students in grades 5-8.

Our flagship school, LEAD Academy, now has a long-term home in a truly historic building on First Avenue South that is also home to Cameron. Combining an academic program at Cameron (2014 Reward School) and LEAD Academy (2015 Reward School) allows students in South Nashville to have a seamless pathway from fifth grade to high school graduation. That is the impact LEAD continues to make on our community.

The work we do across the city, alongside our families, is impossible without your support. We are thankful you are part of the extended LEAD family.

Sincerely,

Chris Reynolds, CEO

Dwayne Tucker, Chairman of the Board of Directors

DirectorsDwayne Tucker, Chair

Kim Ames

William Braddy III

Judge Richard Dinkins

Earl Lattimore

Annette Little

Jerome Oglesby

Jimmy Patton

Stan Ruta

Tara Scarlett

Donald B. Taylor

5

Student DemographicS

6

African American students: 1,086 (49%)

Latino students: 652 (29%)

Caucasian students: 452 (20%)

Asian students: 34 (2%)

PEOPLE OF COLOR38%

FEMALE77 % MALE23%

Faculty demographics

255

TOTAL FACULTY AND STAFF

English Language Learner

Students

451 20%

*compared to 5% in the state and

16% in Davison County

*2014-15 TN Dept. Ed Report Card

Low Income

Students

90% *75% in MNPS and

58% at the State level

*2014-15 TN Dept. Ed Report Card

Special

Education

Students

13%

7

PEOPLE OF COLOR

MALE

“ Teaching is more than a job to me. It is a calling and a passion. I believe that education is one of the most powerful ways to influence the world. I am very grateful to be surrounded with incredible colleagues at LEAD who support me in becoming a better teacher and our students in reaching their highest potential. It is extremely meaningful to know that my work is making a difference and impacting the lives of students.”

— MELISSA MARTENS Math Teacher at LEAD Academy

“ This Blue Ribbon Award honors her commitment to her craft and to our families.

She is an exemplary teacher and we are incredibly fortunate to have her on the LEAD Academy staff. We have so many

hardworking and dedicated teachers, and Melissa is an outstanding representative for

all of them. This award is much-deserved.”

— LAVOE MULGREW Head of Schools

“Ms. Martens is entertaining, supportive and commanding at the same time. She is completely aware of each student’s strengths and weaknesses and groups students in ways that allow for them to get the most benefit from her class.”

— BRANDON OGLESBY-SWETT ’16

Faculty SpotlightS

My decision to be part of LEAD Public Schools was kindled when I was working with Cameron Middle School. I was impressed with the students walking down the hallway in a straight line and in uniform. I wanted to be part of the nurturing and molding of the next generation of young people.”

For the last four years, Mr. Drummond has been the first face that every student sees when they get off the bus, and his booming voice always has a kind word, an affirmation for the student that needs one. He shepherds them into our hallways and through the years it is a rare week where a student doesn’t come back to thank him for the patience he showed them when they were young and the lessons he helped them learn. He is a part of Cameron, a true testament to the power of positivity, generosity, and hard work.”

Mr. Drummond’s grandson is a 7th-grader at Cameron.

— TAIT DANHAUSEN, School Director, Cameron

“ LEAD Academy is a game changer in the lives of their students.

LEAD not only provides an excep-tional academic education, but also

equips students with the confidence and leadership skills to excel

beyond the classroom. LEAD is not just a school, it is a family!”

— GLENNA AND STEVE JOHNSON

“ LEAD really helps me learn things I don’t understand yet. It prepares me for things I will need when I’m an adult. For instance, if I go to the store, I would need to know how much I could spend — that I learn in math. My family really appreciates the teachers and how much I’m learning from them.” — ROBERTO ORTIZ ’23

“ LEAD Academy has been key to my success. Having teachers with high expectations motivates me to excel and do whatever it takes to be successful. At LEAD, I have been able to form deep connections with students and teachers who all hold themselves to our ethos, making LEAD Academy the most wonderful place for me”— LASHONDA PRICE ’17

I am LEAD . . . Ask me WHY.

8

Roberto Ortiz ’23, 6th grader at

Neely’s Bend: A LEAD Public School

LaShonda Price ’17, Senior at LEAD

Academy High School

“ Because they care. The teachers are involved with the students, the parents, the families and the community. It’s the whole package. It’s not just to get you through school and you’re done. It’s to see you succeed both in school and out of school. LEAD makes sure the students have a well-rounded experience and they make sure the students become responsible adults.” — SANDRA HILL, mother of Jamila Hill ’14

“ Because I love sparking curiosity and seeing minds grow.

When I think of teaching, leading, and growing as a person,

I cannot imagine myself anywhere else. I became part of

a family when I joined LEAD and no matter how large the family

may grow; we are still bonded together by our ETHOS. We are

all committed, courageous, disciplined, self-reliant and we

always try to serve others.”— JODI SHEFFIELD

Science Teacher at LEAD Southeast

I am LEAD . . . Ask me WHY.

19

College SuCCeSS

10

LEAD ALUMNI CURRENTLY ATTEND

CoLoRADo

UTAH

NEVADA

ARIZoNA

WYoMING

MoNTANA

oREGoN

WASHINGToN

NoRTH DAKoTA

SoUTH DAKoTA

NEBRASKA

KANSAS

NEW MEXICo

oKLAHoMA

MISSoURI

TEXASLoUISIANA

IoWA

IDAHo

CALIFoRNIA

TENNESSEE

oHIo

PENNSYLVANIA

NEW YoRK

VIRGINIA

MD

NoRTH CARoLINA

KENTUCKY

WISCoNSIN

MICHIGAN

MAINE

SoUTH CARoLINA

DELAWARE

NEW JERSEY

CoNN RI

VT

NH

MASS

ALABAMAGEoRGIA

HAWAII

WASHINGToN, D.C.

Alcorn State Austin Peay State University Bethel College Carson-Newman University Centre College Coker College Columbia State Community College East Tennessee State University Fisk University Florida A&M University Hendrix College Lincoln Tech Lipscomb University Middle Tennessee State University Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Morehouse College Nashville State Community College Purdue University Savannah State University Southern Illinois University, Carbondale Tennessee College of Applied Technology Tennessee State University Tennessee Technological University Trevecca Nazarene University University of Memphis University of Tennessee, Chattanooga University of Tennessee, Knoxville Volunteer State Community College Watkins College of Art, Design, and Film Wittenburg University

ARKANSAS

MISSISSIPPI

ILLINoIS

INDIANA

MINNESoTA

WEST VIRGINIA

FLoRIDA

The Classes of 2014 and 2015 are PERSISTING in

CoLLEGE at a rate of

74%!

Class of 2016 earned

$1,079,592 in scholarships!

LEAD Academy High School’s Demarco Jackson ’16, named to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State basketball team and a two-time District 10A Player of the Year, is playing basketball at Coker College in South Carolina this year. Demarco is the first student athlete in LEAD history to receive a full

athletic scholarship. “His hard work and dedication to this basketball program set the standard for what LEAD Academy basketball will be for years to come,” Coach Matt Barksdale said. “Coker is not only getting a great basketball player, but a hard working student and even better person.”

3 consecutive years of

100% COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE

by our LEAD Academy seniors

69%of the LEAD Academy

Class of 2016

took an AP course

74%COLLEGE PERSISTENCE*

for Class of 2014 and 2015

NATIONAL AVERAGE is 59% and

national low-income peer is 10%

11

RI

* Persistance is the percentage of LEAD graduates still enrolled in college

2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0

92134 208

348

635

947

1220

1617

1958

2117

Enrollment Growth2015-2016

Scholar Society$10,000+Charter School Growth FundClarcor FoundationMichael and Susan Dell FoundationThe Frist Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Frist, IIILee CompanyParks Family Foundation Maureen and Mike ParksProject RenaissanceStan and Suzan Ruta Family Charitable Fund Suzan and Stan RutaMr. and Mrs. Donald B. TaylorThe Memorial FoundationThe Morris Family FoundationU.S. Department of EducationMr. and Mrs. Blair Wilson

Collegiate Society$5,000 to $9,999Advance Financial FoundationDeloittePinnacle Financial PartnersRogers Group, Inc.The Melkus Family Foundation

Nashville Rotary Service TrustCarmen and Dwayne Tucker

Graduate Society$2,500 to $4,999Kim Ames and Deborah MaukMaggie and Allen HugginsMarie and Jimmy PattonW SquaredThe Roros Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Marc K. Stengel

LEAD Society$1,000 to $2,499H Scott BaldwinCapstar BankAllison and John BeasleyKatie and William BraddyPatricia BradfordLinda and Ben DavisAnne Davis and Karl DeanMac and Bill DeLoacheJudge Richard DinkinsSusan and Gerard GeraghtyAlice and Richard HalsteadLisa and John HarrisonGlenna and Steve JohnsonMrs. Mary Loventhal JonesThe Pfeffer Foundation Pamela and Phil Pfeffer

Pinehaven Foundation Trust Mr. and Mrs. Kevin CrumboHunter SchimpffRon and Diane Shafer Charitable Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Mr. and Mrs. Ronald ShaferSusan W. Simons and W. Lucas Simons, Jr. Philanthropic Advised Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Susan and Luke SimonsAshley and Rob SmithLorraine and Robert WamplerJulie and Don Williamson

Honor Roll Club$500 to $999Dr. William C. AlfordKelly and Doug BerryElizabeth Colton WallsNan and Tom CoxCarrington and David FoxKaty Varney and Dave GoetzThe Kingston GroupAmber and Phil HertikMelanie HirtCathy and David KingNeil KunkelJeff Lipscomb

Mike LivensKim and Chuck LockeSusan and Steve MasieRobert E. McNeilly,IIIAmy and Rick OlszewskiNancy and Skipper PhippsGwen and Chris ReynoldsJon ReynoldsKaren Roark and Paul HarmonCarolyn SchneiderMelissa and Terrance ShireyThe Bryant Family FoundationJackie and De ThompsonDr. Harold ThompsonClaire TuckerAdrienne and Alex UsetedTammy WolcottJeremy Wright

Ethos ClubUp to $499Anonymous (8)Jessie and Brian AdamsMary Jo and Patrick AlexanderTori and Dave AlexanderBurkley and Newton AllenAshley AndersonKathryn and Craig AndreenNelson Andrews IIIMr. and Mrs. George ArmisteadNick Balog

Jean Ann and Barry BankerLauren BardwellBarge, Waggoner, Sumner & Cannon, Inc.Shannon and John BartonLeslie Curry BayDwight BeardJoanne and Mark BjordahlKathryn and Donald BoehmHays BrandonMichele and Gerald BraseMr. and Mrs. Stewart Bronaugh Jr.Suzanne and Mark BuchananElizabeth and Dan BurkeCorey BurtonJennifer ByersTheresa and Norm CarlBill CarpenterKalinda and Anthony CassiolCharitable Giving Card Program of the Community Foundation of Middle TennesseeDerek GossBarbara and Eric ChazenRachael and John ClaytonGrace ClaytonShannon ClementsLeah CohenRebecca and Joel CooperJosephine Crouch

Jennifer CumminsMr. and Mrs. Brownlee Currey, Jr.Amy and Steve DennisonKatie and Josh DouglasLaurie and Richard DouglasEllen and Townes DuncanRobert DuthieMissy and John EasonBeth and Bob EckertDr. and Mrs. John ExtonMr. and Mrs. Steve EzellSarah Ann and Jim EzzellSheila FischerBarbara and Fred FisherElizabeth and David FoxAshley FrasierTracy and Keith FrazierBeth Anne FrostLydia GensheimerKathryn GerdingLynette and Cole GibbonsMr. and Mrs. C. Franklin Hammer Jr.Nicoll and Stephen HannawayLuciAnn HelmsJess and Moe HillJennifer and Reed HillenOlivia HugginsKimmie and Stratton HugginsRuth HugginsSusan and Bill HugginsAmy and Seth HunterInflammo LLCCarla and Kenny Jarrell

12

Donors

Jason Jenkins and Matt NeihoffMary Leyden and Torry JohnsonClayton JonesAnne and Richard JonesHallie and Cooper JonesSusie JulianTracy and Jeremy KaneRamesh KasettyEric KeenThomas KendrotGerald KieferElissa KimAnne and Jeff KingPam and Mike KobanBarry Kolar and Sheri SellmeyerKrogerDiane and Irwin KuhnEarl LattimoreRobert LawhonJudy LewisDavid ListerAnnette LittleLaura LoJaconoSarah and Roland LundyBetsy and Gayle MaloneBridgit Manning StoneMary and Kevin MarchettiBrooks and Bert MathewsRachel and Joe McAllisterLeslie and Scott McGilberry

Becky and Rick McIllwainJane MelroseRevell MichaelKen MischSusan and Steve MollCorinne MooreNathan MorrowLaVoe and Tom MulgrewMarge NiemiecEmy NoelCarmen NoelSallie and Bill NortonKaylee OslandLibby and Ben PageThe Honorable and Mrs. George PaineThomas and Kathryn PattenBraxton PattonKatherine PetersBrad PetersonKathleen PohlidDianne PorterJan and Jim RamseyLinda and Art RebrovickDiane ReynoldsTammy RiceBarbara RichardsAndrea RileyMike RobertsPaige and Kevin RoddeyCarrie RogersDaniel RoseStephanie SallmanRobin and Gary Satyshur

Tara Scarlett and Michael PeacockNancy SchultzAnn and Jon ShayneCrystal ShieldsLauren SikesAlex SilvermanLauren SimpsonTrish and Bill SimpsonAbby and JB SpauldingMr. and Mrs. James W. Spradley, Jr.Angela and Ryan StackhouseJenny and Paul SteeleBeth and John SteinKate StephensonAnn and Willy SternTiffany StevensPaula StuartJudy and Matt SweeneyMarilyn and Marlowe TaylorMarie TeSelleMr. and Mrs. Charles ThornburgKathy and Tommy TompkinsJulia P. TuckerMaggie and Will TuckerBarbara and Rick TurnerMelora and Davis TurnerVarallo Public RelationsRobert WahlNorma and Michael WallaceMr. and Mr. Giles Ward

Crissy WelhoelterBetty and Bernard Werthan Foundation Betty and Bernard WerthanLee WhiteTerri and Joe WhitehouseJulia and Chris WhitsonDavid WickerDianne and Skip Wild

Katherine and Bruce WilleyCeleste WilsonSandra and Jim WisemanMaria WolfeRoy and Alma WyattMichelle and Kenneth YoungsteadMolly and Jon ZlockNancy Zoretic

In-Kind DonorsAjax Turner Bongo Java Discount Hoops Supply Dream Events and Catering Five Points Pizza Grand Ole Opry Harpeth Hall School Hunt Brothers Pizza Infinity Hospitality Group Nashville Predators Sherrard & Roe, PLC Sullivan Branding The Nashville Zoo The Peach Truck

The support of generous donors in our community, help us build a greater tomorrow for the students of today.

13

14

The move of LEAD Academy High School:LEAD Academy proudly hosted its graduation ceremony this past spring, in what was the first high school graduation ceremony inside the historic Cameron building since 1971. The event marked the beginning of the high school’s full transition to the Cameron building in South Nashville. LEAD announced in the fall of 2015 that the flagship school would be moving from its Heiman Street location in North Nashville, formerly home to a Catholic elementary school, to Cameron because the population had outgrown the school itself. The high school move reinforces LEAD’s commitment to South Nashville and the historical building.

“Moving the high school allows us to ensure LEAD Academy will enroll more students than in previous years and gives us a permanent location from which to serve our students and families for many years to come,” CEO Chris Reynolds said. “Going forward, we expect Cameron to feed LEAD High, along with other students who choose to enroll, and we expect the extraordinary results that our school leaders and their teams have generated to continue many years into the

future now that we are able to serve even more students.”

Renovation of LEAD Southeast: What is now an award-winning college preparatory middle school began in the attic classrooms of our Cameron building back in 2013 with a small class of 55 fifth-graders.

LEAD Southeast later moved to its current Metroplex campus in Antioch, the first privately owned charter school facility in Nashville, in order to better serve the Southeast Nashville community it now calls home. The complex was home to fifth and sixth grades in its first full year in 2014. The school added seventh-grade in 2015 and is now a fully functioning middle school serving grades 5-8. The ever- growing school, with enrollment now at a little more than 400 students, will fill the entire Metroplex Drive complex as a middle and high school by the year 2021. This means the complex will see $3.5 million in renovations as part of our capital improvement project at no cost to tax payers in Davidson County — one that began in 2014 with an initial purchase cost of $1.9 million.

Facilities

Financials

15

FINANCIALS Fiscal Year Ended June 30th, 2016 (unaudited)

INCOME STATEMENT

Revenue, Grants & Support

Federal and State Funding $ 19,993,530 Grants and Fundraising $ 1,589,299 Total Revenue, Grants & Support $ 21,582,829

Operating Expenditures School Program $ 14,963,576 Transportation $ 2,068,647 Facilities $ 2,067,513Administration $ 2,475,390 Fundraising Expenses $ 128,803 Total Operating Expenditures $ 21,703,929

Annual Surplus/(Deficit) $ (121,100)

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

Assets Current Assets $ 5,191,393 Property & Equipment $ 6,845,057 Accumulated Amortization & Depreciation $ 1,670,964Total Assets $ 10,365,486

Liabilities

Current Liabilites $ 960,804 Long Term Liabilities $ 4,478,960 Net Assets $ 4,925,722

Total Liabilities and Equity $ 10,365,486

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Revenue, Grants & Support

Operating Expenses

Federal and State Funding

93%

Grants and Fundraising

7%

School Program

69%

Transportation10%

Facilities9%

Administration11%

Fundraising1%

VISIT A SCHOOLhttp://bit.ly/LEADTours DONATEhttp://bit.ly/SupportLPS JOIN OUR TEAMhttp://bit.ly/WorkatLEAD STAY CONNECTED

LEADPublicSchools @LEADSchools @lead_public_schools

LEADPublicSchools.org

Get Involved

Nashville, TN 37211 • www.leadpublicschools.org