Last verified: October 2026
Does Tennessee have school vouchers for Nashville families?
Yes — in practice, three of them. The Education Freedom Scholarship (EFS) is statewide and worth $7,530 for 2026-27. The Education Savings Account (ESA) is limited to income-qualifying students zoned to Metro Nashville, Memphis-Shelby or Hamilton County schools and is worth $10,132.54 in the MNPS zone. The Individualized Education Account (IEA) serves students with an IEP anywhere in the state.
A student can hold only one of the three in a given school year.
How many Nashville-area private schools accept the Tennessee voucher?
82 schools in Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, Sumner and Wilson counties appear on TDOE's 2026-27 EFS registered list, and 42 schools with local campuses appear on the ESA list. Altogether this directory tracks 137 private schools and early-learning programs in the five counties.
Registration is voluntary, and some well-known independent schools were not on the August 2026 list. Check each school's page before you plan around a number.
Is there an income limit on the Education Freedom Scholarship?
Not a hard one. Every eligible Tennessee student may apply, but income decides the priority tier when applications exceed seats, and in 2026-27 they did: 56,440 applications for 35,000 seats. Households under the free-or-reduced lunch limit sit in Tier 2 and those under three times that limit sit in Tier 3.
The ESA, by contrast, has a firm ceiling of twice the federal free-lunch guideline.
What do Tennessee's school-choice programs not pay for?
EFS cannot pay a Category IV church-related school, a Category V school or independent homeschooling, and it cannot buy internet service or stand-alone software. ESA funds cannot buy school lunches or consumable supplies, according to the parent comments in TDOE's ESA annual report. None of the programs pay for child care.
Tuition above the award is the family's to cover, usually with school aid.
| Education Freedom Scholarship | Education Savings Account | Individualized Education Account | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where you must live | Anywhere in Tennessee | Zoned to MNPS (or Memphis-Shelby, Hamilton) | Anywhere in Tennessee |
| Amount | $7,530 | $10,132.54 (MNPS zone) | TISA base + special-ed funding |
| Income test | Priority tiers only | Up to 2x free-lunch guideline | None |
| Schools allowed | Registered Cat. I-III | Approved Cat. I-III | Cat. I-V, plus homeschool |
| 2027-28 window | Not yet posted | Feb 2 - Apr 15, 2027 | Opens Feb 16, 2027 (projected) |
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.