{{short description|School district in Tennessee}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox school district |name = Williamson County Schools |logo = 150px |motto = |type = Public |budget = $223,239,609 |established = |region = |grades = K-12 |schools = 50 |students = 38,100 |teachers = 2,246 |staff = 1,717 |ratio = |conference = TSSAA |accreditation=Southern Association of Colleges and Schools |location = Williamson County, Tennessee |country = USA |website = {{URL|http://www.wcs.edu}} }}
'''Williamson County Schools''' (WCS) is a school district in Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. The district is currently made up of over 40,000 students attending 50 schools,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wcs.edu/district/about/|title=About WCS|work=Williamson County Schools|access-date=2018-08-28|language=en-US}}</ref> including three new schools that opened as scheduled for the 2018–2019 school year.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.wcs.edu/infocus/2017/03/17/school-board-presented-new-rezoning-plan/|title=School Board Presented New Rezoning Plan|work=InFocus|access-date=2017-03-23|language=en-US}}</ref> The district is rapidly growing, adding over 1000 new students each year.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wcs.edu/about/fast-facts/|title=Fast Facts|work=Williamson County Schools|access-date=2017-03-23|language=en-US}}</ref>
Students who live within the K–8 Franklin Special School District zone attend WCS high schools Centennial or Franklin after completing eighth grade.<ref name=Districtmaps>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st47_tn/schooldistrict_maps/c47187_williamson/DC20SD_C47187.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Williamson County, TN|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=2022-08-27}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st47_tn/schooldistrict_maps/c47187_williamson/DC20SD_C47187_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
WCS is the sixth largest school district in Tennessee<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.niche.com/k12/d/williamson-county-schools-tn/|title=Explore Williamson County Schools|website=Niche|language=en-US|access-date=2017-03-23}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=December 2019}} and offers a voluntary pre-K program for "at-risk children who are four (4) years of age on August 15."<ref>{{cite web |title=Williamson County Schools Pre-Kindergarten FAQ |url=https://docs.wcs.edu/pdf/schools/Pre-K-FAQ.pdf |publisher=Williamson County Schools |access-date=20 June 2022}}</ref>
Communities in Williamson County Schools for K-12 include Brentwood, Fairview, Nolensville, Thompson's Station, the county's portion of Spring Hill, and outer portions of Franklin. For high school it covers the entire county, including the remainder of Franklin.<ref name=Districtmaps/>
==History== The school district began using the "Wit and Wisdom" curriculum in April 2020.<ref>{{cite web|last=Exum|first=Annika|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/williamson/2021/06/11/wit-wisdom-curriculum-williamson-county-schools-critical-race-theory-criticism/5192703001/|title=Here's what to know about the debate over 'Wit & Wisdom' curriculum in Williamson schools|newspaper=The Tennessean|date=2021-06-11|accessdate=2022-01-28}}</ref> Politically conservative activists criticized the curriculum, with the county division of Moms for Liberty first giving criticism, and with other groups lobbying the Tennessee Commissioner of Education to intervene.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mangrum|first=Meghan|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2021/07/06/tennessee-penny-schwinn-pressure-over-curriculum-critical-race-theory-law/7837346002/|title=TN schools chief faces pressure over curriculum as group files first complaint under new critical race theory law|newspaper=The Tennessean|date=2021-07-05|accessdate=2022-01-28}}{{subscription required}}</ref> The website of Williamson County Schools stated that this curriculum does not include "critical race theory".<ref>{{cite web|last=Exum|first=Anika|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/williamson/2021/06/11/williamson-county-schools-center-debate-teaching-critical-race-theory/5082554001/|title=Debate over racism, critical race theory surrounds Williamson school district|newspaper=The Tennessean|date=2021-06-11|accessdate=2022-01-28}}{{subscription required}}</ref>
==Administrators== Jason Golden, Superintendent<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wcs.edu/superintendent/|title=Superintendent|work=Williamson County Schools|access-date=2017-03-23|language=en-US}}</ref>
Dave Allen, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching, Learning and Assessment (TLA)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Williamson County Schools appoints new principal and central office staff|url=https://www.williamsonhomepage.com/spring_hill/williamson-county-schools-appoints-new-principal-and-central-office-staff/article_3ab3beaf-f75d-5b52-9772-efcb539bbe62.html|last=Blois|first=Matt|website=Williamson Home Page|language=en|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref>
Leslie Holman, Chief Financial Officer
Vickie Hall, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources
Leigh Webb, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Schools<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carpenter |first1=Michael |title=Dr. Leigh Webb Selected as Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools |url=https://williamsonsource.com/dr-leigh-webb-selected-as-assistant-superintendent-of-secondary-schools/ |website=Williamson Source |accessdate=8 May 2020}}</ref>
Juli Oyer, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Schools<ref>{{cite web |title=Elementary Assistant Superintendent Named|url=https://williamsonsource.com/dr-leigh-webb-selected-as-assistant-superintendent-of-secondary-schools/ |website=Williamson County Schools |accessdate=23 Jan 2021}}</ref>
Mark Samuels, Assistant Superintendent for Operations<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/williamson/franklin/2019/08/21/williamson-county-schools-general-counsel-assistant-superintendent-named-dana-ausbrooks-mark-samuels/2076021001/|title=Williamson County Schools appoints new general counsel, assistant superintendent|last=Bartlett|first=Kerri|website=The Tennessean|language=en|access-date=2019-12-04}}</ref>
== School Board == The Williamson County Board of Education consists of 12 members, each elected from one of the 12 voting districts for a four-year term.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wcs.edu/school-board/board-members/|title=Board Members|work=Williamson County Schools|access-date=2017-03-23|language=en-US}}</ref> Following the retirement of Gary Anderson, Nancy Garrett was elected chairman and KC Haugh vice chairman.<ref>{{Cite web|last=McBryde|first=John|date=2020-09-21|title=Pilot for WCS asynchronous day is underway, but where will it go from here?|url=https://www.williamsonhomepage.com/brentwood/pilot-for-wcs-asynchronous-day-is-underway-but-where-will-it-go-from-here/article_ed00d30e-fc7e-11ea-8675-4fa7ab427e77.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-23|website=Williamson Home Page|language=en}}</ref>
First District: Angela Durham
Second District: Dan Cash
Third District: Eliot Mitchell
Fourth District: Brad Fiscus
Fifth District: Jennifer Aprea<ref>{{Cite web|last=McBryde|first=John|date=2020-09-10|title=School board members hear the good, bad and 'horrible' of WCS Online rollout|url=https://www.williamsonhomepage.com/brentwood/school-board-members-hear-the-good-bad-and-horrible-of-wcs-online-rollout/article_8481ed52-f393-11ea-8b1f-fbd088673fad.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-13|website=Williamson Home Page|language=en}}</ref>
Sixth District: Jay Galbreath
Seventh District: Sheila Cleveland
Eighth District: Candy Emerson
Ninth District: Rick Wimberly
Tenth District: Eric Welch<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/williamson/2017/09/11/eric-welch-serve-williamson-school-board/652957001/|title=Eric Welch to serve on Williamson school board|last=Balakit|first=Melanie|website=The Tennessean|language=en|access-date=2019-12-04}}</ref>
Eleventh District: KC Haugh, Vice Chairman
Twelfth District: Nancy Garrett, Chairman
Williamson County Schools made national news following a special session School Board meeting on August 10, 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tennessee. Ultimately a mask requirement for elementary school students, staff, and visitors was mandated. A viral video with millions of views shows parents yelling, "We know who you are. You can leave freely, but we will find you," “There’s a place for you guys — there’s a bad place in hell," and other negative remarks to doctors, nurses, and others who were in support of masks.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mark |first1=Julian |title=Tennessee parents make threats after school board mandates masks: 'We will find you' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/08/12/tennessee-parents-masks-school-board/ |access-date=12 August 2021 |agency=The Washington Post}}</ref>
==Schools== ===Elementary schools (K-5)=== WCS operates 28 elementary schools.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wcs.edu/schools/elementary-schools/|title=Elementary Schools|work=Williamson County Schools|access-date=2017-03-23|language=en-US}}</ref> Creekside Elementary opened in fall 2019 and moved into its permanent building in early January 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=WILLIAMSON COUNTY SCHOOLS FIVE (5) YEAR CAPITAL PLAN (2017-2022) |url=https://www.wcs.edu/pdf/facilities/Capital-Projects-2017-2022.pdf |website=WCS.edu |publisher=Williamson County Schools |accessdate=28 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://franklinhomepage.com/new-elementary-school-in-southeast-williamson-delayed-until-2020/|title=New elementary school in southeast Williamson delayed until 2020 - Franklin Home Page|last=Willis|first=Alexander|date=2018-10-12|website=franklinhomepage.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://franklinhomepage.com/new-elementary-on-gosey-hill-road-will-be-called-creekside/|title=New elementary on Gosey Hill Road will be called Creekside|date=2019-03-29|website=Franklin Home Page|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://williamsonsource.com/name-chosen-for-new-franklin-elementary-school/|title=Name Chosen for New Franklin Elementary School|last=|first=|date=2019-03-28|website=Williamson Source|language=en-US|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-12-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=McBryde |first1=John |title=WCS construction projects moving right along, and in some cases have been completed |url=https://www.williamsonhomepage.com/brentwood/wcs-construction-projects-moving-right-along-and-in-some-cases/article_4bd63e12-3c7e-11ea-8d70-8f4bc21279f6.html |accessdate=25 January 2020 |agency=Brentwood Home Page |publisher=Williamson Home Page |date=21 January 2020}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Williamson County holds grand opening for new Creekside Elementary School|url=https://communityimpact.com/nashville/franklin-brentwood/education/2020/01/27/williamson-county-holds-grand-opening-for-new-creekside-elementary-school/|last=Hosey|first=Wendy Sturges, Alex|date=2020-01-27|website=impact|language=English|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref> {{Col-begin}} {{Col-break}} *Allendale Elementary (2010) *Amanda H. North Elementary (2023) *Arrington Elementary School (2023) *Bethesda Elementary (1936) *Chapman's Retreat Elementary (2003) *Clovercroft Elementary (2011) *College Grove Elementary (1936) *Creekside Elementary (2019)<ref name=":4" /> *Crockett Elementary (1990) *Discovery Virtual Elementary *Edmondson Elementary (1995) *Fairview Elementary (1962) *Grassland Elementary (1873) *Heritage Elementary (1999) *Hillsboro Elementary (1905) *Hunters Bend Elementary (1995) *Jordan Elementary (2018)<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Three new schools open in Williamson County|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/williamson/schools/2018/08/05/williamson-county-schools-jordan-elementary-brentwood-thompson-station-elementary-middle-school/844555002/|last=Knisely|first=Amelia Ferrell|website=The Tennessean|language=en|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref> {{Col-break}} *Kenrose Elementary (1999) *Lipscomb Elementary (1866) *Longview Elementary (2007) *Mill Creek Elementary (2016)<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=New Nolensville schools to celebrate grand opening|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2016/07/16/new-nolensville-schools-celebrate-grand-opening/87127462/|last=Balakit|first=Melanie|website=The Tennessean|language=en|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref> *Nolensville Elementary (1937) *Oak View Elementary (1993) *Pearre Creek Elementary (2010) *Scales Elementary (1977) *Sunset Elementary (2005) *Thompson's Station Elementary (2018)<ref name=":2" /> *Trinity Elementary (1883) *Walnut Grove Elementary (1990) *Westwood Elementary (2000) *Winstead Elementary (2002){{Col-end}}
===Middle schools (6-8)=== thumb|The front of Fairview Middle School in Fairview, TennesseeWCS operates 12 middle schools.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wcs.edu/schools/middle-schools/|title=Middle Schools|work=Williamson County Schools|access-date=2017-03-23|language=en-US}}</ref> Legacy Middle School opened in fall 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/williamson/franklin/2019/09/10/new-franklin-tn-middle-school-funding-henpeck-lane-williamson-county-commission/2274567001/|title=Funding for new Franklin middle school finalized by county commission|last=Bartlett|first=Kerri|website=The Tennessean|language=en|access-date=2019-12-04}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/williamson/franklin/2020/01/21/legacy-middle-school-official-name-new-middle-school-henpeck-lane-williamson-country-oak-view/4536802002/|title=Legacy Middle School is the official name of the new middle school on Henpeck Lane|last=Bartlett|first=Kerri|date=21 January 2020|website=The Tennessean|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-01-25}}</ref>
*Brentwood Middle (1972) *Discovery Virtual Middle *Fairview Middle (1981) *Fred J. Page Middle (1981) *Grassland Middle (1986) *Heritage Middle (2001) *Hillsboro Middle (1905) (k-8) *Legacy Middle (2020)''<ref name=":3" />'' *Mill Creek Middle (2016)<ref name=":1" /> *Spring Station Middle (2010) *Sunset Middle (2006) *Thompson's Station Middle (2018)<ref name=":2" /> *Woodland Middle (1994)
===High schools (9-12)=== WCS operates eleven high schools throughout the district.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wcs.edu/schools/high-schools/|title=High Schools|work=Williamson County Schools|access-date=2017-03-23|language=en-US}}</ref> An additional high school was previously planned for 2022, according to the district's 2017 5-year capital outlay plan; however, the district has since chosen to renovate existing high schools to increase capacity in the short term.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wcs.edu/wp-content/pdf/Facilities/CapitalProjects.pdf|title=Williamson County Schools ITF Needs Five (5) Year Capital Outlay Plan 2016-2022|date=2016-11-02|website=Williamson County Schools|access-date=2017-03-23}}</ref> The district's 10-year building forecast now calls for a new high school opening in fall 2025.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Balakit|first1=Melanie|title=Williamson Schools: More elementary, middle schools dominate 10-year building forecast|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/williamson/2018/01/11/williamson-schools-new-buildings-elementary-middle-forecast/1016620001/|website=The Tennessean|publisher=USA Today Network|accessdate=15 May 2018}}</ref> *Brentwood High (1982) *Centennial High (1996) *Fairview High (1956) *Franklin High (1910) *Fred J. Page High (1975) *Independence High (2004) *Nolensville High (2016)<ref name=":1" /> *Ravenwood High (2002) *Renaissance High (2014) *Summit High (2011) *Vanguard Virtual High
==See also== *List of high schools in Tennessee *List of school districts in Tennessee
==References== <references/>
==External links== *{{Official website|http://www.wcs.edu|Williamson County Schools}}
Category:School districts in Tennessee Category:Education in Williamson County, Tennessee