Nashville elementary attacked by former student provides $16,500-per-year Presbyterian education
The Nashville private elementary school that was attacked by a former student on Monday serves just about 200 students whose families pay over $16,000 each for their Presbyterian education.
The Covenant School was founded in 2001 as a ministry of the Covenant Presbyterian Church, with which it shares a building, and serves students from preschool through sixth-grade.
It is left ‘intentionally small,’ according to its website, boasting a teacher-to-student ratio of just eight-to-one.
But on Monday that small, quiet private school became the site of America’s latest school shooting when a former student entered the building through a side door and began opening fire on the second floor.
Three children and three staff members were killed in the assault at the school, which does not employ a school resource officer.
The Covenant School was founded in 2001 as a ministry of the Covenant Presbyterian Church, with which it shares a building, and serves students from preschool through sixth-grade.
Police crime scene tape is seen at the entrance to The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee following the shooting Monday morning
Three children and three staff members were killed in the assault at the school, which does not employ a school resource officer. Police are seen at the school here
The Covenant School is an unlikely location for a school shooting due to its small size and private enrollment.
Any family that would like to enroll their child at the school must apply online and pay $16,500 each year for fifth-grade and $16,300 for kindergarten through fourth grade — though church members may pay $1,000 less.
Tuition for preschoolers, meanwhile, ranges from $7,250 to $11,550.
Prospective students entering kindergarten through sixth-grade are then tested on their knowledge before they could attend the school, while children hoping to enter preschool have to pass a developmental readiness assessment.
Students are taught by just 33 teachers, who hope to instill in their pupils a sense of curiosity, intentionality and authenticity.
Students are also required to attend daily chapel services at the school, which notes: ‘The authentic freedom found in Christ allows our school community to be courageous and vulnerable, full of deep learning and fearless teaching.’
After graduating from the school, many students go on to attend other private high schools in the area like Battle Ground Academy, Brentwood Academy, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Ensworth and Davidson Academy.
But on Monday, many of those students were seen running from the building today in their school uniforms after the shooting began.
They were then transported to a nearby church on school buses, visibly crying, as they waited eagerly to be reunited with their parents.
Family members rushed to pick up their children at a family reunification center nearby
Many of the 200 students were seen running from the building today in their school uniforms after the shooting began.
Community members have described the school as being ‘close-knit’
In the past, many of the deadliest school shootings occurred at public schools, which tend to have larger class sizes and are more prevalent in the United States, with about 100,000 public schools in the country and just about 30,000 private schools.
Shootings at elementary schools are also relatively rare, accounting for just 18 percent of all school shootings, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database, which monitors shootings at schools across the country.
The vast majority of these shootings occur at high schools, which account for 63 percent of school shooting incidents around the country.
It is also relatively uncommon for a former student to open fire at a school, the database found, with less than 4 percent of alumni deciding to take up arms against their alma mater.
Most shootings are committed by students, it found.
Nashville Metro Police have said the unidentified 28-year-old female shooter entered The Covenant School using a side door shortly before 10.13am and began opening fire on the second floor.
It remains unclear how she gained access to the building, as police say all of the doors at the school were locked at the time.
When authorities arrived at the scene, they said, they heard gunshots emanating from the second floor.