TL;DR: 82 schools in Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, Sumner and Wilson counties are on the Tennessee Department of Education's registered list for the 2026-27 Education Freedom Scholarship, out of 290 statewide. Davidson County alone has 44. Several of the region's largest independent schools are eligible to register but are not on the list.
How many Nashville-area private schools take the Education Freedom Scholarship in 2026-27?
82 do, according to the "2026-27 Registered EFS Schools" table that TDOE last updated on August 24, 2026. That table is the only list that matters for spending the $7,530 award: a school that is not on it cannot be paid from an EFS account this year, whatever its accreditation or reputation.
The 290 registered schools statewide sit in 42 counties, and the five-county Nashville area accounts for 28% of them. Inside that share the split is lopsided: Davidson County has more registered schools than the other four counties combined, so families in the surrounding counties choose from a much shorter menu.
Where are the EFS-registered schools, county by county?
The table below compares each county's entry in TDOE's 2026-27 Non-Public Schools Directory (updated October 5, 2026) with the EFS registered list and the Middle Tennessee ESA list (updated September 24, 2026). "Category I, II or III" counts schools holding at least one of the approval categories that are allowed to register.
| County | Schools in TDOE's 2026-27 directory | Hold Category I, II or III | On the 2026-27 EFS list | Schools on the ESA list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davidson | 99 | 69 | 44 | 35 |
| Williamson | 31 | 20 | 16 | 3 |
| Rutherford | 22 | 15 | 11 | 2 |
| Sumner | 16 | 11 | 8 | 2 |
| Wilson | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Five counties | 178 | 122 | 82 | 42 |
Davidson County's numbers stand out for a second reason: it is the only one of the five counties where students can use the Education Savings Account, so its ESA column carries weight. Elsewhere, the few ESA-approved campuses serve Metro Nashville students who cross the county line. You can browse every school by area in our school directory.
Which well-known Nashville schools are not on the EFS list?
A group of large independent schools hold Category III approval, which would let them register, but do not appear on the August 2026 list. In Davidson County that group includes University School of Nashville, Franklin Road Academy, Montgomery Bell Academy, both Ensworth campuses, Harpeth Hall, Harding Academy, The Oak Hill School and St. Bernard Academy. In Williamson County, Battle Ground Academy is in the same position.
Registration is voluntary, and schools have their own reasons for staying out. For a family, the practical point is simple: if one of these schools is your first choice, budget for it without EFS, or ask the admissions office whether it intends to register for 2027-28. The registration window runs from November 16, 2026 to April 30, 2027.
Is a registered school the same as an eligible school?
No, and the difference trips up families every year. Being eligible means a school holds Category I, II or III approval and has a Tennessee campus. Being registered means it has also completed TDOE's separate EFS registration for that school year. Across the five counties, 122 directory entries hold an eligible category, but only 82 entries appear on the registered list.
What a registered school is not, either, is a promise. Registration does not guarantee a seat, set tuition or mean that the award covers the full price. It only means the school can be paid. Our guide to Tennessee's private school categories explains what each label does and does not allow.
What about church schools that are not registered?
Many are not allowed to be. 35 schools in the five counties hold Category IV approval only, the church-related category, and 21 hold Category V only. Neither category can register for EFS or join the ESA. Some congregational schools solve this by holding two categories at once, such as II and IV, which is why you will see Christian schools with "II, IV" in their record on the list.
For a student with an IEP, the Individualized Education Account can still pay a Category IV or V school. For everyone else, member rates and school aid carry the load. See Christian schools and the category question for the details.
What kinds of schools make up the Nashville-area EFS list?
Mostly faith-based ones. Matching the list to the state directory and the federal private school survey, the 81 registered schools we could match in the five counties (the Jewish middle and high schools share one state record) break down this way: 37 Christian schools, 16 Catholic schools, 5 Jewish, Islamic or other faith schools, and 23 independent schools or schools whose affiliation is not reported. The Christian group includes Church of Christ, Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Seventh-day Adventist schools along with many non-denominational ones.
The list also includes 10 early-learning programs that end at kindergarten, several of them franchise preschools. They matter only for a kindergartner, because EFS starts at kindergarten and does not pay for pre-K. Families with younger children should look at Voluntary Pre-K and Smart Steps instead.
Frequently asked questions
How many Nashville-area private schools take the Education Freedom Scholarship in 2026-27?
82 schools in the five counties are on TDOE's 2026-27 registered list, updated August 24, 2026.
Which well-known Nashville schools are not on the EFS list?
Among others, University School of Nashville, Franklin Road Academy, Montgomery Bell Academy, Ensworth, Harpeth Hall, Harding Academy, The Oak Hill School and St. Bernard Academy were not on the August 2026 list.
Is a registered school the same as an eligible school?
No. Eligibility comes from a Category I, II or III approval; registration is a separate yearly step with TDOE.
What about church schools that are not registered?
Category IV and V schools cannot register for EFS, though the IEA can pay them for students with an eligible IEP.
What kinds of schools make up the Nashville-area EFS list?
Mostly Christian and Catholic schools, plus a smaller number of Jewish, Islamic and independent schools and some early-learning programs.
Related questions
- How much is the Education Freedom Scholarship and what does it buy?
- Should a Davidson County family use the ESA or EFS?
- Which Catholic schools are registered?
- How does a school get on the 2027-28 list?
Sources
- TDOE — EFS Parents and Students (2026-27 Registered EFS Schools, updated 8/24/26)
- TDOE — Non-Public Schools Directory 2026-27 (updated 10/5/26)
- TDOE — ESA Participating Schools: Middle Tennessee (updated 9/24/26)
- TDOE — EFS Schools and Service Providers
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