- Renaissance High
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We Are Renaissance
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Renaissance [re-nə-ˈsän(t)s] noun. a renewal of life, vigor, interest, etc.; rebirth; revival
Renaissance High is part of the Williamson County School District in Franklin, TN, 30 minutes south of Nashville. Renaissance delivers high quality education through project-based learning with standards-based grading to approximately 170 students from across the entire county. Each of our students choose Renaissance over their school of zone because of the personal relationships fostered in this intimate setting.
The Renaissance Wolves are a group of dedicated staff, students, and parents who realize that every student is important and that every student does not learn the same way. Therefore, we are a non-traditional high school that caters to students who have an interest in pursuing their dreams in creative ways during high school and after graduation.
Browse the links below and get to know the Renaissance difference. If we meet your family's needs, we would love for you to apply to join our Wolfpack!
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We ARE Renaissance!
Accountability:
Keeping your commitments and taking ownership of what happens as a result of your choices and actions.
"The worst thing that can happen to you as a young person is to refuse to grow up. You refuse to grow up when you believe that someone else must take responsibility for your life and life circumstances."
- Saidi Mdala
Resiliency:
The ability to withstand adversity and bounce back from difficult life events. Learning to persevere when facing academic, social, and emotional adversity will benefit you your entire life!
"Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again."
- Nelson Mandella
Empathy:
The ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling. Focus on being a good listener, being patient and understanding of others, and being kind.
“I think we all have empathy. We may not have enough courage to display it.”
- Maya Angelou
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Our History
Renaissance High School had its inception in 2014. Our school is located in historic downtown Franklin on the corner of Columbia Avenue and Everbright Avenue. We embrace project-based learning, standards-based grading, and the 4 C’s of creativity/innovation, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration that lead to 21st century success. Our students choose from three creative academies: Arts (Digital Design), Audio (Music Industry Audio Production), and Film (Video Production). We average just over 40 students per grade level, which allows us to form a tight-knit community unlike any other school around.
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Our Difference
- Open to students from across Williamson County
- Smaller class sizes and a significantly smaller population of students than a traditional high school
- Offers an accepting, caring environment focused on individual growth
- Attracts unique, creative, divergent thinkers who feel like a round peg in a square hole in a traditional high school
- Teaches design thinking and social entrepreneurship through interdisciplinary, real-world project-based learning
- Uses authentic standards-based grading practices that ensure students' grades reflect only what they know and can do
- Provides opportunities for additional academic interventions during the school day
- Encourages the use of one-to-one technology in all classes
- Monthly coffee house performances showcase students’ diverse talents
- Off-campus lunch privileges for seniors, juniors, and sophomores
- Offers creative academies in Arts (Digital Design), Audio (Music Industry Audio Production), and Film (Video Production).
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Our Vision
Instilling purpose, passion, and perseverance through creativity, innovation, and authentic relationships.
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Our Mission
We provide Williamson County students with a unique choice for their high school education that unleashes and channels their creativity to seek solutions to authentic problems in a smaller, more intimate, and personalized learning community.
A Day at Renaissance
Later School Hours
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Renaissance has a later start time than other WCS high schools to allow our students time to travel from all across Williamson County to our campus in downtown Franklin. Since WCS does not provide transportation to Renaissance, many of our students arrange carpools to and from school. Renaissance starts at 8:15 AM and dismisses at 3:25 PM.
Daily Schedule
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Renaissance does not have bells. Our students will rotate through a seven-period day on the following schedule, depending on the day of the week.
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Regular Schedule
1st Period: 8:15 AM – 9:05 AM
2nd Period: 9:10 AM – 10:00 AM
3rd Period: 10:05 AM – 10:55 AM
4th Period: 11:00 AM – 11:50 AM
Study Hall: 11:50 AM– 12:15 PM
Lunch: 12:15 PM – 12:45 PM
5th Period: 12:50 PM – 1:40 PM
6th Period: 1:45 PM – 2:35 PM
Enrichment and Remediation: 2:40 PM – 3:25 PM -
Late Start Days
1st Period: 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM
2nd Period: 9:50 AM – 10:35 AM
3rd Period: 10:40 AM – 11:25 AM
4th Period: 11:30 AM – 12:15 AM
Lunch: 12:15 PM– 12:55 PM
5th Period: 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
6th Period: 1:50 PM – 2:35 PM
Enrichment and Remediation: 2:40 PM – 3:25 PMSchool will start at 9AM on the following dates for the 2023-2024 SY:
First Semester
August: 14, 21, 29
September: 5, 11, 18, 25
October: 2, 16, 23, 30
November 7, 13, 27Second Semester
January: 8, 16, 22, 29
February: 5, 12, 26
March: 4, 18, 25
April: 1, 8, 15 -
Pack Time (Wednesdays)
1st Period: 8:15 AM – 9:00 AM
2nd Period: 9:05 AM – 9:50 AM
3rd Period: 9:55 AM – 10:40 AM
4th Period: 10:45 AM – 11:30 AM
Lunch: 11:30 AM – 12:10 PM
5th Period: 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM
6th Period: 1:05 PM – 1:50 PM
Enrichment and Remediation: 1:55 – 2:35
Pack Time: 2:40 PM – 3:25 PMCoffee House Dates
August 16, September 20, October 18, November 15, December 6, January 24, February 28, March 20, April 17, May 8
Coffee House Schedule
1st Period: 8:15 AM – 9:00 AM
5th Period: 9:05 AM – 9:50 AM
4th Period: 9:55 AM – 10:40 AM
Enrichment and Remediation: 10:45 AM – 11:25 AM
Coffee House: 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Lunch: 12:20 PM – 1:05 PM
2nd Period: 1:10 PM – 1:55 PM
3rd Period: 2:00 PM – 2:40 PM
6th Period: 2:45 PM – 3:25 PM
What’s Unique About the Renaissance Schedule?
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Study Hall/Lunch
Students have a daily study hall for 25-minutes after 4th period when they can seek help from any faculty member in the school, followed by a 25-minute lunch period. Since Renaissance does not have a cafeteria, students can bring a lunch from home or order a WCS lunch before school and have it delivered. Students who demonstrate accountability and resiliency in their academic achievement can earn up to a 60-minute lunch period. In addition, 10th-12th grade students can earn the privilege of going off-campus for lunch.
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Advisory
Students meet in small advisory groups organized by their grade level Arts/Audio/Film Creative Academy every Monday during 7th period. Teacher advisors meet with students individually for a weekly academic check-in and foster discussions in restorative practice circles to foster connection and community.
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Renaissance ER (Enrichment and Remediation)
Tuesday through Friday, 7th period is dedicated to providing students a differentiated opportunity for growth:
- Remediation: Students who have not successfully completed and demonstrated proficiency on all of the required work for the week in each class may use this time to work independently and collaboratively, or to seek help from teachers. Students who have demonstrated proficiency on all the required assignments are encouraged to use this time to work on their recommended assignments for their classes in order to improve their grades and extend their learning.
- Enrichment: Additionally, students who have finished all their required and recommended assignments will be able to participate in project-based learning opportunities designed to extend and apply their learning to the real world while also developing the 4 C’s of Creativity/Innovation, Critical Thinking, Communication, and Collaboration. Our seniors will use this time to work on their Arts/Audio/Film Practicum capstone projects and portfolios which they will present publicly at the end of the year and hopefully use to launch their trajectories after graduation.
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Pack Time
We will run a modified schedule on Wednesday of each week to allow us to participate in Pack Time, which is explicitly focused on fostering community and connection. Once a month we host our famous Coffee House performances during this time, when our amazing PTO provides coffee and treats as our student musicians and songwriters entertain the school. We also dedicate this time for community service days, teambuilding activities, songwriting sessions, open art classes, and welcoming guest speakers who share how they were able to leverage their creative, innovative, and entrepreneurial skills in the real world.
