The Ensworth School
Encyclopedia
The Ensworth School is a private school located on two separate campuses in Nashville, Tennessee
.
The original school, with grades "pre-first" (kindergarten
) through eighth, opened in 1958 with 152 students. The school opened in a large Tudor-style home; its distinctive architecture became a symbol of the school itself. That facility, since expanded several times, is now known as the Red Gables Campus, and is located at 211 Ensworth Avenue.
In 2002 the school initiated a $60 million capital campaign, with the goal of expanding the school to grade 12. After operating for over 40 years as a K-8 school, Ensworth added a high school in 2004, located on Tennessee State Route 100
adjacent to Edwin Warner Park and known as the Devon Farm Campus. The high school began with grade 9 and added a grade each following year; the school's first graduating class has matriculated in 2008.
In 2005, the newly constructed high school earned nationwide honors for architecture from American School and University Magazine and the Boston Society of Architects.
A 665-seat theater has recently been completed on the high school campus.
In June 2003 construction of the school's tennis courts resulted in the discovery of several prehistoric human burials. The developer petitioned the Davidson County
Chancery Court, and was granted permission to remove and relocate all burials within the construction zone to an adjacent portion of the school property.
Archaeological excavations were subsequently conducted in order to identify and remove all human remains from the site. The excavations resulted in the discovery of more than 300 archaeological features
, of which 64 contained human remains. Artifacts recovered during these investigations indicate the site was occupied over a 9000-year time frame stretching from the Early Archaic through Mississippian
periods. The site was most intensively occupied during the period known as the Benton phase (ca. 6000–5000 B.P.). Artifacts from this period were prolific at the site, and included numerous finely crafted burial offerings.
Beginning around 1798, the land containing EHS was situated within a large agricultural property owned and farmed by the families of brothers Giles and Thomas Harding. Between 1798 and 1807, Giles Harding and his sons constructed a home that would be known as Oak Hill and later Devon Farm. This home was included in the National Register of Historic Places
in 1974, due to the architectural integrity of the main house and the significance of the Harding family to the early settlement of the Nashville area. The historic cemetery associated with the Devon Farm was moved in 2003 during construction of EHS. The NRHP-listed home was renovated and now serves as the school's admissions office.
In the Middle School the creative process, not the finished product, is emphasized, and students are encouraged to bring their individual personalities to bear on their work. The wide variety of artwork is displayed throughout the school.
The arts at Ensworth High School are designed to challenge and encourage students from the inexperienced to the developing professional in three areas: Visual Arts, Music, and Theater/Dance. Students are required to take four semesters of Arts courses in at least two of these areas, beginning with a Foundation course and including one course at least at Level 2. Additional Arts courses may contribute to satisfying the Distribution requirement in the Humanities. The rich curriculum includes courses in photography, graphic design, ceramics, painting, drawing, and art history.
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
.
The original school, with grades "pre-first" (kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
) through eighth, opened in 1958 with 152 students. The school opened in a large Tudor-style home; its distinctive architecture became a symbol of the school itself. That facility, since expanded several times, is now known as the Red Gables Campus, and is located at 211 Ensworth Avenue.
In 2002 the school initiated a $60 million capital campaign, with the goal of expanding the school to grade 12. After operating for over 40 years as a K-8 school, Ensworth added a high school in 2004, located on Tennessee State Route 100
Tennessee State Route 100
State Route 100 is a west–east route that connects Whiteville, Tennessee with Belle Meade, Tennessee.- Route description :Once it leaves SR-15, State Route 100 passes south of Whiteville along with US-64. Then SR-100 passes through an interchange with US-64 and SR-15 and leaves Whiteville...
adjacent to Edwin Warner Park and known as the Devon Farm Campus. The high school began with grade 9 and added a grade each following year; the school's first graduating class has matriculated in 2008.
In 2005, the newly constructed high school earned nationwide honors for architecture from American School and University Magazine and the Boston Society of Architects.
A 665-seat theater has recently been completed on the high school campus.
Location
EHS is located at 7401 Highway 100, Nashville, Tennessee. The high school campus was built overlooking the confluence of the Harpeth and Little Harpeth Rivers, near Edwin Warner Park.In June 2003 construction of the school's tennis courts resulted in the discovery of several prehistoric human burials. The developer petitioned the Davidson County
Davidson County, Tennessee
Davidson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 626,681. Its county seat is Nashville.In 1963, the City of Nashville and the Davidson County government merged, so the county government is now known as the "Metropolitan Government of Nashville and...
Chancery Court, and was granted permission to remove and relocate all burials within the construction zone to an adjacent portion of the school property.
Archaeological excavations were subsequently conducted in order to identify and remove all human remains from the site. The excavations resulted in the discovery of more than 300 archaeological features
Feature (archaeology)
Feature in archaeology and especially excavation has several different but allied meanings. A feature is a collection of one or more contexts representing some human non-portable activity that generally has a vertical characteristic to it in relation to site stratigraphy. Examples of features are...
, of which 64 contained human remains. Artifacts recovered during these investigations indicate the site was occupied over a 9000-year time frame stretching from the Early Archaic through Mississippian
Mississippian culture
The Mississippian culture was a mound-building Native American culture that flourished in what is now the Midwestern, Eastern, and Southeastern United States from approximately 800 CE to 1500 CE, varying regionally....
periods. The site was most intensively occupied during the period known as the Benton phase (ca. 6000–5000 B.P.). Artifacts from this period were prolific at the site, and included numerous finely crafted burial offerings.
Beginning around 1798, the land containing EHS was situated within a large agricultural property owned and farmed by the families of brothers Giles and Thomas Harding. Between 1798 and 1807, Giles Harding and his sons constructed a home that would be known as Oak Hill and later Devon Farm. This home was included in the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1974, due to the architectural integrity of the main house and the significance of the Harding family to the early settlement of the Nashville area. The historic cemetery associated with the Devon Farm was moved in 2003 during construction of EHS. The NRHP-listed home was renovated and now serves as the school's admissions office.
History
The Ensworth High School campus was built after a fund-raising campaign that raised nearly 60 million dollars. This also benefited the Lower and Middle Schools. The High School began classes in 2004, and its first senior class graduated in 2008. To commemorate the Lower and Middle school's 50th anniversary, the students will build houses for Habitat For Humanity, a service organization.Student body
In the fall of 2007, Ensworth High School welcomed its fourth and final "cornerstone class," filling the campus for the first time. At the conclusion of the school year, the High School's charter class graduated.Visual and Performing Arts
In the Lower School every student has art for two periods each week, with an art teacher, in fully equipped art rooms. Students explore creating in many different media including paints, pastels, charcoals, ceramics, textiles, and others.In the Middle School the creative process, not the finished product, is emphasized, and students are encouraged to bring their individual personalities to bear on their work. The wide variety of artwork is displayed throughout the school.
The arts at Ensworth High School are designed to challenge and encourage students from the inexperienced to the developing professional in three areas: Visual Arts, Music, and Theater/Dance. Students are required to take four semesters of Arts courses in at least two of these areas, beginning with a Foundation course and including one course at least at Level 2. Additional Arts courses may contribute to satisfying the Distribution requirement in the Humanities. The rich curriculum includes courses in photography, graphic design, ceramics, painting, drawing, and art history.
Athletic Highlights
- 2004: The EHS golf team played a full season with notable success, among these were: Meg Nelson placed 2nd as an individual in the regional tournament and made it to the TSSAA State Golf Tournament, placing in the top 15.
- 2007: The EHS football team played its first full varsity season in 2007, and made it to the TSSAA State Semifinals with a record of 8-2 (5-2).
- 2008: The EHS girls basketball team became Division II AA state champions after defeating Knoxville Webb by a score of 50-48 in the state championship game at Lipscomb UniversityLipscomb UniversityLipscomb University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. It is affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The campus is located in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville between Belmont Boulevard to the west and Granny White Pike on the east...
. - 2008: The EHS football team made it to the TSSAA State Semifinals with a record of 11-0 (7-0) in only its second season of varsity play.
- 2009: The EHS boys basketball team became Division II AA state champions by defeating Father Ryan 61-44 at Lipscomb University.
- 2009: The EHS girls Lacrosse team became TSLA Division I state champions with a win over Hutchinson School
- 2009: The EHS track team had many accomplishments, among these were: Sarah B. Delozier won state in the girls 1600m, and the boys 4x800m won state
- 2010: The EHS girls basketball team became Division II AA state champions.
- 2010: The EHS girls volleyball team became Division II AA state champions with a win over St. Benedict.
- 2010: The EHS boys football team became Division II AA State Champions with a 28-21 win over Baylor.
- 2011: The EHS girls volleyball team became Division II AA state champions with a win over Baylor.
Accreditation & membership
- Tennessee Association of Independent Schools
- Southern Association of Independent Schools
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Notable alumni
- Shooter JenningsShooter JenningsWaylon Albright "Shooter" Jennings is an American singer-songwriter active in the country music and Southern rock genres as well as making his first foray into psychedelic rock in 2009...
, country/rock singer, son of Waylon JenningsWaylon JenningsWaylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL... - Joi GilliamJoi (singer)Joi Elaine Gilliam , better known by her stage name Joi, is an American R&B/Rock singer, songwriter and record producer associated with the Dungeon Family collective based in Atlanta, Georgia, and as such often performs with OutKast, the Organized Noize production team, and Goodie Mob Joi Elaine...
, R&B/Rock singer, record producer and songwriter
Further reading
- Sarah B. Gilliam. "Ensworth High hosts Special Olympics camp". The TennesseanThe TennesseanThe Tennessean is the principal daily newspaper in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Its circulation area covers 39 counties in Middle Tennessee and eight counties in southern Kentucky....
. 24 October 2007. - Randy Moomaw. "Rural, urban kids learn together at Ensworth High camp". The Tennessean. 11 July 2007.
- Karen Jordan. "New year brings sophomores to Ensworth High". The Tennessean. 26 August 2005.
- Stephanie Toone. "Student, faculty numbers are growing at Ensworth High". The Tennessean. 20 July 2005.
- Pam Sherborne. "Parents, students get preview of Ensworth High buildings". The Tennessean. 28 November 2003.