Last verified: October 2026
Why can some Christian schools in Nashville take EFS and others can't?
A Christian school can take the Education Freedom Scholarship only if it holds Category I, II or III approval and registers with TDOE. Many church schools are instead approved as Category IV church-related schools through an association named in state law, which exempts them from some faculty and curriculum rules but also keeps them out of EFS and ESA.
Some schools hold more than one category, for example II and IV, and those can register for EFS on the strength of the eligible category.
How many Christian schools in the Nashville area are EFS-registered?
37 of the 57 Christian schools in this directory are on the 2026-27 EFS registered list. They include Church of Christ schools such as Goodpasture, Ezell-Harding, Lipscomb Academy and Middle Tennessee Christian School, Baptist and non-denominational schools, and Adventist schools in Madison, Portland and Murfreesboro.
Filter the Christian schools hub by community to see which are registered near you.
What funding options exist at a Category IV church school?
At a Category IV school, the IEA is the only state program that can pay, and only for a student with an eligible IEP. Otherwise families rely on church-member rates, sponsorships and school aid, and at participating schools, the Edu Fund Partner Scholarship.
The federal scholarship tax credit arriving in 2027 is not limited by Tennessee's categories, so it may eventually reach these schools through approved SGOs.
| Category III (regionally accredited) | Category IV (church-related) | |
|---|---|---|
| EFS / ESA | Eligible if registered | Not eligible |
| IEA | Eligible | Eligible |
| Teacher and curriculum rules | Set by the accreditor | Exempt from certain state rules |
| Umbrella homeschool program | No | May operate one |
What should a Nashville family do next?
Take the two-minute funding check. A tuition counselor will confirm which program fits, what it is worth for your child and which date is next.