FRANKLIN, Tennessee – A crowd of about 50 parents, grandparents, and Tennessee Star Report All-Star panelists came out to hear first hand the announcement from Thales Academy founder Bob Luddy on Tuesday night that Thales Academy-Franklin will open its doors beginning in July of 2020, and will offer Middle Tennessee parents an affordable and high-quality education option for their children.
Luddy broke the news that the campus will be located at the Gate Church on Carothers Parkway, the location of the evening’s meeting. Thales Academy has purchased the building and is beginning renovations to convert the church building to an effective home for its K-3 campus.
Thales Academy-Franklin will be the first school in Tennessee added to Thales Academy’s successful roster of eight current campuses in the Raleigh, North Carolina area. Founder Bob Luddy emphasized their methodology of direct instruction (DI) Tuesday night and expressed the passion in their mission of teaching to master and creating connections for their students.
When discussing what separates Thales from traditional models of schooling and how parents should see their children’s progress he stated, “You really don’t have to have any test scores or grades. If you can’t tell the difference than we’re not doing our job.”
The school’s principal, Rachel Bradley, who’s been a long time teacher at Thales and is one of the most experienced Direct Instruction teachers in the country, is currently hiring staff for the new campus of Thales Academy in Franklin.
Thales will cost families $6,000 a year but are currently offering a $500 discount to the first 100 parents that register, giving them a full year tuition price of $5,500. If parents are in a financial position to pay the full year upfront, the cost is further reduced by another $300, resulting in a full year tuition price of $5,200.
According to Tennessee Star CEO and Editor in Chief Michael Patrick Leahy, “The Nashville market’s other private school costs can range anywhere from $12,000 – $22,000.”
During the meeting, Bradley talked about Thales Academy’s affordability admitting that most private education is out of reach for families. “I know it is for mine,” she said.
Thales Academy in Franklin will start as K-3 with the intent on growing year by year at The Gate Community Church.
“Our goal is to start small and make sure we have a solid foundation adding a grade every year,” Bradley said.
A second parent informational meeting will be held at the Gate Community Church in Franklin on Tuesday, March 10, at 6:30 p.m.
If you are interested in learning more or enrolling at the school please visit Thales Academy on the web at www.thalesacademy.org or at their Facebook page.
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Julie Carr is a staff writer at The Tennessee Star.
