Nashville Schools Face Audit Over Performance

Families with children in Metro Nashville Public Schools should watch for the city audit report and any state review decision.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Secondary Education

Nashville Schools Face Audit Over Performance

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Metro Nashville Public Schools faces a city audit commissioned by the Metro Nashville Council, and a state audit has been requested by Rep. Scott Cepicky. Director Adrienne Battle responded to calls for audits of the district, which serves around 80,000 students in Nashville.

Why it matters

The city audit reviews the performance and operations of the second-largest district in Tennessee, which affects families and taxpayers in Nashville directly. The request for a state forensic audit comes as Battle has earned the state's highest rating for year-over-year academic growth four years in a row.

The Metro Nashville Council commissioned the city audit, and the office of Metropolitan Auditor Lauren Riley hired Nashville-based accounting firm Frazier & Deeter to conduct it. A state forensic audit would require approval by state lawmakers.

The players

Metro Nashville Public Schools

The second-largest school district in Tennessee, serving around 80,000 students and employing 11,000 staff in Nashville.

Adrienne Battle

Director of Metro Nashville Public Schools, whose district has earned the state's highest year-over-year academic growth rating four years in a row.

Scott Cepicky

Tennessee state representative from Culleoka who asked House Speaker Cameron Sexton for a state audit of MNPS.

Cameron Sexton

Speaker of the Tennessee House, whose office says all possible options are being explored for a state audit.

The details

Rep. Scott Cepicky asked House Speaker Cameron Sexton for a state audit of MNPS, and a spokesperson for Sexton said all possible options are being explored. Cepicky argued that MNPS and Memphis-Shelby County Schools were negatively affecting the state's overall academic achievement. Battle spoke about the district's achievements during a keynote address at a Rotary Club of Nashville meeting, and a final city audit report will be publicly posted to the auditor's office website after completion.

Last month (October 2026): Cepicky criticized Battle in a conservative talk radio interview.
November 2026: Battle delivered a keynote address at the Rotary Club of Nashville.
Class of 2026: MNPS reported record-breaking graduation rates.
Mid-January 2027: The Tennessee General Assembly is set to reconvene.
Approximately 10-12 months: Estimated duration of the city audit.

The Home Front

Nashville families weighing school choices are watching how the city and state audits of MNPS unfold alongside the district's reported record graduation rates. The timing of the Tennessee General Assembly's mid-January reconvening will shape whether a state review moves forward.

If your child attends a Metro Nashville public school, keep an eye on school communications about the audits and any changes to district operations. Families planning around school enrollment can check the district's official channels as the city audit progresses.

The takeaway

Audits of a large district like MNPS can shape how public money is spent on schools that serve around 80,000 students. Nashville households with school-age children should watch for the city audit report, which will be posted publicly once complete.