Join the Wolfpack!

Renaissance High is a public WCS school located in Academy Park in the heart of downtown Franklin that provides students from across Williamson County a unique, innovative choice for their high school education.  Our students develop purpose, perseverance, and passion for their lives through authentic relationships; project-based learning; and creative academies aligned to their interests and talents. 

Renaissance adheres to the same board policies, calendar, and graduation requirements as all of the other public WCS high schools. We are focused on providing our students with a rigorous, engaging academic experience that prepares them for college and real-world success. Teachers follow the same scope and sequence as other WCS schools. They simply incorporate more collaboration, differentiation, and projects than a traditional school is able to provide with larger class sizes. Renaissance also serves students who need services through a 504 or IEP. Renaissance offers upper-level math classes to accommodate students who took high school math classes in middle school.  We do offer a limited number of AP courses, and many of our students choose dual enrollment college courses as upperclassmen. Renaissance maintains close to a 100% graduation rate. Our ACT scores are consistently in the top half of WCS high schools and over 90% of our students go on to public and private colleges and universities across Tennessee and the country.  

Renaissance is all about community. Renaissance is known for having kind, accepting, diverse students. Our students and staff have created a culture where bullying and physical violence does not exist. Because of our small size, Renaissance can only accept about 40 students in each grade level and has only about 160 students in the entire school, thereby creating a sense of connection impossible to replicate in a traditional, zoned high school. These relationships are further strengthened through the students’ common passion in one of our three CTE Creative Academies: Arts (Digital Art and Design), Film (Video Production), and Audio (Music Industry Audio Production), which allow students to harness and leverage their creativity and explore 21st century careers in those industries.

Being a small school, students also have the opportunity to build relationships with their teachers, whom they will have across multiple years. Renaissance teachers use project-based learning, 1:1 blended learning tools, and standards-based grading strategies to cultivate engagement and a growth mindset. At Renaissance, our grading practices ensure a student’s grade is an accurate and undiluted reflection of their learning, so they can use that feedback to improve. Our teachers understand that students don’t all learn at the same pace, so they provide multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate mastery of standards over time.

Any rising 9th-12th grade student who lives in Williamson County who believes they would thrive in a smaller, creative environment and has a passion for one of our three Creative Academies (Arts, Audio, Film) is encouraged to apply to Renaissance! Renaissance takes pride in our diverse student body. Our students come from every middle school in WCS and FSSD as well as from home schools and private schools.

Pack Time

Each week, we run a modified schedule so we can make time for “Pack Time” to foster school-wide community and connection. Once a month, we host our famous Coffee House performances when our amazing PTO provides coffee and treats as our student musicians and songwriters entertain the school in the courtyard or the Academy Park Performing Arts Center. We also use this dedicated time for Academy competitions and team-building activities called “Dens.” During the Dens, teachers conduct various workshops like, song-writing, art classes, board games, jam sessions, and even Tai Chi! Those students behind on assignments from the previous week will use this time to get caught up in their classes before the weekend. 

Senior Capstone Practicum

Seniors who have successfully completed three years of Arts, Audio, or Film courses have the opportunity to complete a capstone project their senior year. Renaissance wants students to have a portfolio they can take with them after graduation that showcases their professional knowledge and skills to complement their GPA, transcript, and ACT score.  Seniors present their original projects to industry experts at the end of the first semester and then complete their portfolios and launch themselves on their professional trajectories second semester. 

Advisory and Renaissance ER

7th Period is dedicated to Advisory and Renaissance ER (enrichment and remediation). Advisory groups serve as a student’s “home base.” Advisory lessons and discussions are designed to cultivate trust, community, and connection among the group. On Monday, advisors will facilitate a restorative circle, help students reflect on the previous week’s progress, review study skills, and set goals for the week. On Tuesday through Friday this period is dedicated to a school-wide study hall and also provides a differentiated opportunity for students to go to any teacher’s room for support or to retest.

Renaissance is too small to offer some of the traditional activities such as interscholastic sports, JROTC, concert band, and orchestra. However, we offer a wide range of school-sponsored and student-led clubs. Our Student Council organizes our yearly Renaissance Under the Stars evening talent showcase, spirit weeks, and prom. Our Athletic Club meets during lunch to play basketball, flag football, dodgeball, and nine square in the air. See the extracurricular section for a full list of clubs. Students are encouraged to start their own extra-curricular clubs based on common interests.

Renaissance does not have a cafeteria. Students can order their choice of a variety of WCS boxed lunches from the front desk each morning to be delivered at lunch time. Students who qualify for free/reduced lunch are served at Renaissance. Freshmen are allowed to eat lunch in the building or anywhere outside on campus. One of the perks of Renaissance is that students in 10th-12th grade can earn the privilege of taking an off-campus lunch. Lunch is scheduled for 35 minutes a day, but students who are demonstrating satisfactory progress in all of their classes can forgo a schoolwide study hall before lunch and earn up to an hour-long lunch break.

Per WCS Board Policy, the county does not provide transportation to a student’s out-of-zone school. Students/parents are therefore responsible for getting their own transportation to and from Renaissance each day. Renaissance has later start/dismissal times (8:15 AM to 3:25) to provide extra time for students to travel from throughout the county to our campus in downtown Franklin. Our wonderful PTO helps many of our parents coordinate carpool arrangements for students who live in the area. Most of our upperclassmen drive themselves to and from Renaissance. New drivers can get a parking pass after completing the Checkpoints safe driving program with a parent and then park in the student parking lot across from Academy Gymnasium.

Renaissance has been blessed with an amazing PTO over the years. All of our parents are considered members of the PTO.  Our PTO not only supports our school financially, but it is also instrumental in providing volunteers for our monthly coffee house performances, teacher lunches, and organizing carpools.  Parents are also encouraged and expected to check their students’ grades through Skyward and Schoology weekly and help provide the scaffolded support at home. Remember, teachers are always just an email away if they can ever answer any questions or provide additional help.

A video all about Renaissance High School is available on YouTube.  In addition, we encourage you to visit our website. Feel free to reach out to Assistant Principal, Dr. Chris Gupton or Principal Dr. Brian Bass if you have individual questions.

How to Apply: Students can apply directly through our school website.  There is a separate application for rising 9th graders and rising 10th-12th grade students. The application requires students to identify the Creative Academy to which they are applying (Arts, Audio, Film) and asks specific questions about their experience and interest in that academy. There is also a link to an online parent recommendation form.  

When to Apply: For rising Freshmen, our application window opens usually then end of November and closes in early January. Sophomores-Seniors can apply in the spring and will be accepted at the end of the school year when we know what vacancies we have for each grade level. If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Sissy Brinkley.

Applications:  Each student applying will complete an online application.  Plan on about 30 minutes to complete this process.  In addition to personal profile information (i.e. name, address, school, etc.), you will be asked to complete short answer questions about your background, current interests, and why you would be a great fit for our school.

Parent Recommendation:  In addition to the student application, there is a separate Parent/Guardian Recommendation form to complete. This provides an opportunity for parents/guardians to give additional insight into why their student wants to be at Renaissance.

After our application window closes, School Counselor, Sissy Brinkley, will reach out to the students and parents who applied to set up an interview. We will host in-person, group interviews in February. The most significant component of the interview will be a 45-minute small group session with either our Arts, Audio, or Film teacher.  Students applying to our Film (Video Production) and Audio academy are welcome to bring a flash drive showcasing their related experience/skills, but it is not expected or required. During their interview day, each small group of students will spend another 45 minutes talking with a teacher, counselor, and administrator so they can get to know you as well.  Finally, we will seek input from your middle school on your grades, attendance, and behavior. 

Our admission team’s challenge is to find 40 rising 9th graders and a handful of additional rising upperclassmen from across WCS who will enhance and thrive in our Renaissance community.  Students, along with their parents, who are accepted to Renaissance will receive an email by the Friday before spring break. If your child is not accepted or is placed on our wait list, we will send an email to parents.