Mission + Vision
Who We Are
Located in the heart of East Nashville, we are the city’s only Episcopal school serving early childhood and elementary students. We offer an independent school education with a mission and vision like no other.
ESN Mission
Episcopal School of Nashville is a diverse, urban, and independent school dedicated to nurturing the joy of learning and the spirit of discovery in each of our students.
ESN Vision
To shape students who are intellectually, spiritually, and responsibly engaged with the place, community, and world they call home.
With an Eye on the Future
Part of our goal is not only to grow today, but to set strategic steps in place so that tomorrow we are ready to welcome a whole new generation of students through our doors.
ESN Emblem
The endurance of the purple martin, and its level of devotion to its young are qualities we admire and aspire to as we raise up the children in our school with love and learning, strengthening them to grow and thrive…
The purple martin has special significance for the Episcopal School of Nashville.
As one of the earliest spring migrants in Tennessee, the arrival of the purple martin has long been a source of inspiration and wonder for residents here.
We have also discovered that purple martins are wholly devoted to giving their young the nutrition they need to survive the journey awaiting them.
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The purple martin has special significance for the Episcopal School of Nashville. Recognizable by its rich iridescent color, the martin is a neotropical migrant, annually embarking on a 2-3 month journey from North America to South America. Traveling by the thousands, the birds stop on their way south to roost and raise up their fledglings. One of the largest collective nesting roosts in the area was discovered in 2010 right near our urban campus, a roost estimated at 50,000 or more birds.
As one of the earliest spring migrants in Tennessee, the arrival of the purple martin has long been a source of inspiration and wonder for residents here. Bursting with song on wings both daring and graceful, the birds marked the welcome start of spring for local Native Americans who hung gourds to house these long-distance travelers. Over time, purple martins have come to trust humans implicitly and are now the only bird species to rely almost solely on human-constructed housing. In return, we humans marvel at the martin’s agility in flight, its sense of community in roosting, and its boisterous joy in song.
We have also discovered that purple martins are wholly devoted to giving their young the nutrition they need to survive the journey awaiting them.
The endurance of the martin and its level of devotion to its young are qualities we aspire to as we raise up the children in our school with love and learning, strengthening them to grow and thrive with minds and spirit soaring.
ESN Campus
The former Ross School on Ordway Place is East Nashville’s oldest surviving school building, maintaining classic architecture from the beginning of the twentieth century.
In searching for the right location to open our school, we wanted a place that was in the heart of the East Nashville community, but that was also easily accessible to Nashville residents citywide.
August 1, 2020, Episcopal School of Nashville signed a lease to the historic Ross Building at 1310 Ordway Place. As we entered our fifth school year, ESN was excited for this transition.
This building began serving families in the Lockeland Springs neighborhood in 1908, and we hope to continue to serve families from this neighborhood and beyond!
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The former Ross School on Ordway Place is East Nashville’s oldest surviving school building, maintaining classic architecture from the beginning of the twentieth century.
In searching for the right location to open our school, we wanted a place that was in the heart of the East Nashville community but that was also easily accessible to Nashville residents citywide.
August 1, 2020, Episcopal School of Nashville signed a lease to the historic Ross Building at 1310 Ordway Place. As we entered our fifth school year, ESN was excited for this transition.
The biggest reason for our move in 2020 was the school’s success and growth. Episcopal School of Nashville has continued to mature each year and this building empowers us to continue this success.
Nashville Classical Charter School moved from Ross school in the summer of 2019, leaving the facility unoccupied. Anticipating our need for more room and the requirement by MDHA that we move from Woodland Street, Episcopal School of Nashville began seeking acceptable property, with an eye toward our commitment to remain in East Nashville. When Founding Head of School Harrison Stuart saw this building, it was clear this was the Purple Martins’ new home.
This building began serving families in the Lockeland Springs neighborhood in 1908, and we hope to continue to serve families from this neighborhood and beyond!
“This giant leap for ESN represents 7 years of herculean efforts from staff, faculty, supporters, and trustees, as well as the leadership and belief of Metro Council members.
I am so proud of our little school for making this big move to our new home at East Nashville’s historic Ross School building.”
– Ketch Secor, Board Co-Chair
