Harding Academy (Nashville)
Harding Academy (Nashville) is a PreK-8 co-educational day private school in the Nashville, Tennessee suburb of Belle Meade near the intersection of Harding Place and Harding Road (U.S. Highway 70S). Harding Academy's mission statement is: "To educate and inspire children to become thoughtful, creative, lifelong learners who are self-disciplined, responsible, caring citizens".[1] The school was founded in 1971, its current head is Ian Craig, and total enrollment is 495. Accreditations are from Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
Harding Academy is a close-knit campus with facilities designed for both lower and middle school students. The lower school consists of 18 classrooms for grades Kâ5 as well as a kindergarten activity center, two science labs, a creativity center, iLab and an art room. The middle school is housed in a separate building, which accommodates the departmental approach and a number of classic offerings in grades 6â8. There is also a fine arts center, a gymnasium, an outdoor amphitheater, playgrounds, dance and music rooms, a hot line cafeteria for lunch, and a library with over 18,000 volumes. Also, there are after school activities, a middle school musical is offered at the beginning of the year, and an all school musical is offered at the end of the year.
Notable alumni include:
- Brandt Snedeker - PGA Tour Golf Professional (FedEx Cup Champion - 2012)
- Hunter Hillenmeyer - Former Chicago Bears Linebacker (2003-2010)
- Robert Frist, Jr. - Healthstream, Inc. Co-Founder / CEO
- Reese Witherspoon - Actress