Nashville, Tennessee · Davidson County
Tennessee School Vouchers: EFS & ESA
Compare every K–12 & childcare option in Metro Nashville
Neither program is taking applications right now. The EFS window for 2026–27 closed in February 2026, and the ESA second-semester window closed on October 15, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. CT.
Tennessee has not yet published 2027–28 dates for either program. Last cycle the state announced its EFS dates in late November and opened applications in January, so the next window is expected around then — but that is a pattern from one year, not a promise.
It is worth knowing now which program is worth more to you, because the windows are short. The ESA award for a student zoned to Metro Nashville Public Schools was $10,132.54 for 2026–27, against $7,530 for EFS. The trade-off is that ESA eligibility is much narrower — see the comparison below.
The EFS is Tennessee's statewide school-choice scholarship, signed into law in February 2025. It lets families use state funds toward private-school tuition and fees at state-registered (Category I–III) non-public schools in Tennessee. For the 2026–27 school year the award is $7,530 per student (it was $7,295 in 2025–26).
Eligibility is broad: any Tennessee resident entitled to attend a K–12 public school can apply. Because the number of scholarships is capped, awards are prioritized rather than first-come. Priority generally goes, in order, to current EFS recipients, then to families with the greatest financial need or students with certain disabilities, then to other households — with income-based eligibility set at or below 300% of the free-and-reduced-price-lunch threshold (roughly $173,160 for a household of four in 2026–27).
Applications are submitted through the state's official EFS portal, and the window for each school year opens in January. Applicants create an account, submit documentation, and — if awarded — enroll at a participating private school.
Tennessee runs two separate voucher programs at the same time. EFS did not replace ESA. They have different eligibility, different amounts and different deadlines, and a student may apply to both but can use only one at a time.
| EFS (2025) | ESA Pilot (2019) | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount, 2026–27 | $7,530 | $10,132.54 (Metro Nashville) |
| Who can apply | Any Tennessee resident entitled to attend a K–12 public school | Students zoned to Metro Nashville, Memphis-Shelby County or Hamilton County schools |
| Income limit | Priority by need, at or below 300% of the free-and-reduced-lunch threshold | Household income no more than twice the federal free-lunch guidelines |
| 2026–27 window | Closed. Next window expected in January. | Second semester: closed October 15, 2026. |
A student already classified as economically disadvantaged automatically meets the ESA income test.
There is also a related program for students with specific disabilities. If your child has an IEP, start with the official ESA program page.
A private school must be registered with the state to accept EFS funds. Tuition and fees vary widely, and the scholarship may not cover the full cost. Every private-school page in this guide links that school's official tuition or financial-aid page so you can see the real numbers. Browse Nashville private schools →
The Education Freedom Scholarship is worth $7,530 per student for the 2026-27 school year. It can be applied to tuition and fees at a state-registered private school in Tennessee.
Any Tennessee resident entitled to attend a K-12 public school can apply. Because scholarships are capped, awards are prioritized — first to current recipients, then to families with the greatest financial need or students with certain disabilities, then to other households (income-based eligibility is set at or below 300% of the free-and-reduced-price-lunch threshold).
Apply through the state's official EFS portal, linked from tn.gov/education/efs. The application window for each school year opens in January. The 2026-27 window has closed; watch the official page for the next window.
No — only at private schools that are registered with the state as Category I, II, or III non-public schools. The scholarship prioritizes tuition and fees and may not cover the full cost, so confirm each school's tuition directly.
Tennessee runs both at once — EFS did not replace ESA. EFS (2025) is near-universal and worth $7,530 for 2026-27. ESA (2019) is narrower: a student must be zoned to Metro Nashville, Memphis-Shelby County or Hamilton County schools and household income must be no more than twice the federal free-lunch guidelines — but in Nashville it pays more, $10,132.54 for 2026-27. The ESA second-semester window for 2026-27 closed on October 15, 2026, and 2027-28 dates have not been published.