Carter-Lawrence bears the name of two distinguished Nashvillians and represents the combination of two previously separate city schools. Carter Elementary School (grades 1-3), located north of the present site, was named in honor of Howard C. Carter, an outstanding African-American Educator. Lawrence Elementary School (grades 1-6), located on South Street, was named in memory of Judge John Lawrence, who served for many years as a member of the Nashville City Schools’ Board of Education. The school is presently located at the corner of 12^th Avenue South and Edgehill Avenue, on land historically known since pioneer days as “Buffalo Ridge.” Adjacent to Carter-Lawrence on this same property is E.S. Rose community Center and Rose Park Middle School.

In January 1940, Carter-Lawrence School first opened its doors, serving grades one through six. Classrooms were added in 1948 and again in 1952 to the original three-story brick structure. The school’s role in the life of the South Nashville community continued uninterrupted until 1978, when the Metropolitan Board of Education closed the school. For the next five years the building was used by several social service groups including the Metro Action Commission and the Second harvest Food Banks.

With the clustering and pairing of schools to achieve racial balance, the Metropolitan Board of Education decided to re-open Carter-Lawrence as a middle school in 1983. The decision to reactivate the historic institution was a by-product of litigation and negotiations between the Federal Court and attorneys representing the school board and the plaintiff in the city’s extended school desegregation lawsuit. Following an investment of several hundred thousand dollars to improve the building, the school reopened in August of 1983 and received 360 kindergarten, fifth, and sixth graders from the immediate Edgehill area and from the Antioch area. In the fall of 1993, Pre-Kindergarten was added to Cater-Lawrence.

Carter-Lawrence Magnet School springs from a rich and proud heritage. Throughout the years, Carter-Lawrence has housed various grades and programs. Some of the major programs have included Nashville Education Improvement Project, Follow Through Program, Schools for Thought, Project Reach, and Flags for Excellence. In this building many college students from various universities have done practicum work, student teaching and research for doctoral degrees. Carter-Lawrence’s proud past is a good and solid foundation upon which to build a bright and meaningful future.

The original Carter-Lawrence building was constructed in 1939 on a hill overlooking downtown Nashville. After 63 years of service, the original building was demolished. Carter-Lawrence became an elementary magnet school in 1999. During the 1999-2000 school year, the student population included the Pre-Kindergarten through 4^th grade population described above. Additionally, our enrollment included local 5^th and 6^th grade students. The following year the 5^th and 6^th grade students were re-zoned to a nearby middle school.

The beautiful new Carter-Lawrence building was erected in 2003-2004, with its population relocated to the Walter Stokes Building on Belmont Blvd. during construction. Construction was completed in August of 2004 in time for the opening of the 2004-2005 school year. In addition to its 24 classrooms, Carter-Lawrence has a large gymnasium, a cafetorium, library/media center, computer lab, an art room equipped with a kiln, an acoustically designed music room, and a community room.

Today Carter-Lawrence is a secure and safe environment that has a population of 400 students. Carter-Lawrence Math and Science Magnet School faculty and staff are committed to helping each student reach his/her potential by providing an appropriate, standards based, rigorous curriculum. At Carter-Lawrence students learn something new everyday!

Any student who lives in Davidson County may apply to attend Carter-Lawrence Magnet through the lottery. The school also has zoned students from our local community.   All students interested in attending a magnet school must submit applications prior to the deadline. For more information call 259-INFO.

 Please find more information about the Magnet School Calendar here.