MNPS Students Thriving with Early College Opportunities through Nashville State

Launched in early 2020, the Better Together partnership between Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) and Nashville State Community College is transforming postsecondary success for Davidson County students. This innovative collaboration aims to prepare high school graduates to attend and complete college—and the results are already exceeding expectations.

Real Results, Real Impact

One of the most compelling examples of this success is at Whites Creek High School, where 21 students from the inaugural embedded Early College program cohort - including the valedictorian and salutatorian of the Whites Creek Class of 2025 - will graduate this year with both a high school diploma and an associate degree from Nashville State. Funded through a generous grant from PNC Bank, this achievement demonstrates the power of strategic investment in education and student potential.

This is just the beginning. Early College programs have now launched at Cane Ridge and Glencliff high schools, expanding access and opportunity across the district.

Meanwhile, at the Early College High School located on Nashville State’s White Bridge campus—a school recently recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School for Academic Excellence—32 students will be graduating with both diplomas and degrees, including, again, this year’s valedictorian and salutatorian.

Academic Excellence Across the Board

The Better Together initiative is not only preparing students for college—it’s cultivating leaders. In fact, five valedictorians and salutatorians across MNPS high schools this year participated in Early College programs or earned significant college credit through dual enrollment.

Here are some of their inspiring stories:

Whites Creek High School

Valedictorian: Ines Busane – Dean’s List student every semester, full-ride Nashville Vanderbilt Scholar, incoming economics major at Vanderbilt University.

Salutatorian: Nove’a Rippy – Dean’s List student and part-time employee; accepted to Florida A&M and LSU, planning a career in nursing.

Early College High School

Valedictorian: Tania Wright – National Honor Society member; heading to Western Kentucky University to study health sciences and pursue medical school.

Salutatorian: Karen Takawe – Incoming biology major at Middle Tennessee State University with plans to become a dentist.

East Nashville Magnet High School

Valedictorian: Delano Carney – Dual-enrollment student at Nashville State and two other colleges, active volunteer, soon to be a marketing major at the University of Tennessee–Chattanooga.

“The Better Together partnership is a clear example of what’s possible when K-12 and higher education align around student success. These outcomes reflect the strength of thoughtful collaboration,” said Dr. Shanna L. Jackson, president of Nashville State.

“Our partnership with Nashville State has been transformative,” MNPS Superintendent Dr. Adrienne Battle said. “Together, we are offering college opportunities to students while they’re still in high school that can