Families of NCCS: The Angeles Family

When it was time to choose a Kindergarten for her daughter Izzy, one Nashville mother wasn’t just looking for a school. She was searching for a place that would feel like an extension of home – a community where her daughter would be seen, supported and loved. She found that place in Nashville Classical. 

“My kids go to daycare with Mr. Friedman’s kids,” Stephanize Diaz explains, recalling the moment she first heard about the school. As she began to research options, Nashville Classical quickly stood out. “I wanted a school that would work with me, similar to the way we are at home. Izzy is always on the move, and I knew she’d need structure to thrive.”

Choosing Nashville Classical was a decision rooted in shared values, communication, and a commitment to the community. The family entered Nashville Classical as their first choice on their application, and they were accepted! From that moment, it was clear they had found a place that offered more than just academics. “You make it feel so welcoming and open,” she says. “It doesn’t feel like our kids are a burden on teachers; it feels like a community.”

“You make it feel so welcoming and open,” she says. “It doesn’t feel like our kids are a burden on teachers; it feels like a community.”

Nashville Classical’s mission starts by declaring our schools are diverse, K-8 communities, which was key for Ms. Diaz. “Izzy is half Mexican,” Ms. Diaz explains, “and Hispanic Heritage gets a little better each year, and the multicultural community continues to grow at Nashville Classical.” 

Stephanie can’t wait for her second child, Antonio, to join the Kindergarten class in the fall, bringing them deeper into our community. 

For families who are uncertain about school choice, she encourages them to look beyond the stereotypes and take a closer look. “People have hesitations because they want it to feel like a continuation of home,” she explains. “But here, it will. When friends ask me about our experience, my answer is always, ‘We love it here. A charter isn’t what you think it is at all–go and sit in one day. They’re the best people around.’”

For the Diaz family, Nashville Classical is more than just a school – it’s home. “Parenting takes a village, and that includes the teachers at your kid’s school,” she says. “They do a great job building that village with us.”

We are so grateful for the investment and trust we receive from our families, and we are humbled that Izzy’s family considers us an extension of their home.