Eakin Elementary School

Posted: January 4, 2026

We've loved our time at Eakin. The school community is welcoming and we are glad to be part of it. We enjoy celebrating the diversity of the students, their interests (arts, sports, music, drama) and backgrounds. The teachers and staff deeply care about each student and spend time working together to come up with the best plan for our success. We feel really lucky to have Eakin!

Posted: January 4, 2026

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Posted: August 31, 2025

We have a first grader and it has been a wonderful experience at Eakin. The new principal Dr. Crumbo has been fantastic- she deeply cares about every single student (and knows them all by name!), and is making Eakin the best elementary school in Nashville. The PTO had some struggles over the last couple of years, but also got a great new team, and altogether we couldn’t be happier.

Posted: August 31, 2025

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Posted: March 20, 2024

Horrific administration. Untrained and only concerned with behavior. Administration knows very little about children with disabilities and causes so much trauma. There are no checks & balances and administration is not held accountable for their inappropriate choices & actions for neurotypical and neurodiverse students. Would never send children there unless under new administration. Some staff is appropriately trained, but a lot of them are also very unhappy with administration as well and this affects interactions with students & families and hinders how they can and cannot help students appropriately. So many unethical things taking place within administration and staff. School board has ever growing list of complaints about this leadership team; in particular the principal. PLEASE DO CURRENT RESEARCH before choosing Eakin for your student!!!

Posted: March 20, 2024

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Posted: May 3, 2023

Great elementary school! I went there a few years ago and I want to tell yall how good it was. The school has great support for special education kids. It has a huge, big library for kids to enjoy. And nicely cleaned bathrooms. Teachers actually care about students and their learning. My only complaint is how small it is and it has to fit 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, AND 5th.

Posted: May 3, 2023

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Posted: August 15, 2022

We have loved having our child at this school and feel it’s been a wonderful fit for him. We love the diversity of the student body and the wonderful tea. Principal Hartfelder is doing a great job.

Posted: August 15, 2022

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Posted: June 3, 2022

The community(parents and community ) evolvement is Beautiful. The teachers are not able to accommodate African American Boys with energy. The teachers complain and blame these kind of children instead of making school fun for them and trying to find a way to make them excited about the learning process. I felt a lack of respect from the teacher. This was the worst 2 years.

Posted: June 3, 2022

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Posted: August 3, 2018

dis school is a bunch of bs

Posted: May 20, 2017

Posted: May 20, 2017

Posted: May 20, 2017

Great because the teachers really help the students learn.

Posted: May 20, 2017

Because if you don't get something in class the teacher will help you practice so you can get better.

Posted: May 20, 2017

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Posted: May 10, 2017

We have loved this school- the teachers were fabulous, the classes and music and language all well organized. Lots of parental involvement. We have been so happy with Eakin.

Posted: November 6, 2016

Greetings! I am Tim Drinkwine, the honored principal of Eakin School. We really do appreciate all of the positive and encouraging words left on this review page. We, as a faculty and staff, give our very best each day for ALL kids and for ALL families. Although. we do not do it perfectly, we are relentless in our pursuit to get it right. If your experience has been great, then please continue to give us this feedback as to why your experience has been good for you. If you have specific concerns, please never hesitate to contact me. If you feel as if you have been mistreated in any way no matter your background, please contact me. Thank you all for your tireless support and efforts so we can give ALL of our students the VERY BEST education.

Posted: May 9, 2016

My daughter's teacher was so mean and never communicated in clear way. She kept sending emails saying everything is OK and by the end of the year she down graded her grade for no obvious reason. Plus I never felt welcome to be around.

Posted: May 9, 2016

Posted: May 9, 2016

Posted: May 9, 2016

As a person of color I felt I am not welcome in school. Staff at the entrance are mean most of the time. It's rare that any staff members to smile back at you or start a conversation.

Posted: May 7, 2016

Posted: May 7, 2016

Eakin has a fantastic school curriculum and I am very impressed with their after-school clubs. Chess, Mine-craft, soccer, softball, engineering! My daughter had a plethora of choices and very much enjoyed her time at the school. She's ending her kindergarten year here and we are moving in the fall, however I have no regrets for sending my girl here using the lottery scholarship. Mr. Sekeres and the car-rider team are fantastic in getting the children to their cars after school and I'm rarely in line for more than 5-10 minutes (if I get there early enough!) Her teach, Mrs. Wiedman, has been wonderful in responding to any email I have had and the opportunities for parental involvement are endless! Special shout-out to the PTO.

Posted: November 18, 2015

Posted: November 18, 2015

Posted: November 18, 2015

Posted: November 18, 2015

My daughter has blossomed while attending Eakin Elementary. The IB curriculum really empowers her, while the administration and staff make her feel loved, supported, and safe to grow and learn.

Posted: November 13, 2015

Some of the lunch ladies are super mean and a lot of the kids act up

Posted: November 12, 2015

Posted: November 12, 2015

Eakin is a wonderful school. My daughter is in kindergarten there, and she loves it and is thriving. I love seeing her so happy and excited about school, and I especially love the fact that I am able to save so much more for college by sending her to a free public school. I am very lucky to have Eakin as our neighborhood school. I would encourage everyone in the neighborhood to consider sending your kids to Eakin. I have never known such a sense of community before. It is also such a nice way to start the day by walking with your child to school in our beautiful neighborhood! .

Posted: November 12, 2015

Many of the teachers we have had at Eakin have been pure magic - that once-in-a-lifetime teacher who you never forget. I feel so lucky to have had some many of them in our 5 years here.

Kindy - Our teacher had an artistry of teaching kids to work together while at the same time helping each tiny student thrive to their ability.

1st - Our teacher taught through example how everyone makes mistakes. She taught to live out loud and learn and read and celebrate strengths. A year with her absolutely transformed my oldest.

2nd - Our teacher was insightful. She saw my youngest struggling with reading and helped us maneuver the waters of getting her the help she needed. She supported my youngest when she needed it most.

3rd - Our teacher was strong at teaching the fundamentals. She explained tricky multiplication concepts with ease and clarity. She adeptly taught vocabulary and grammar. She developed responsibility and pushed kids to learn. Both girls grew so much and got an excellent foundation for future learning. Third grade is an huge year of learning, and out teacher nailed it. Having her was a gift to both girls.

4th - Just 4 months into forth and I love our teacher. She has a joy of learning and a kindness that I adore. She really sees the kids - sees strengths and areas to improve. She nurtures them and shows them, through example, what it is to be a book lover and a seeker of knowledge.

As for the other teachers - the special ed, music, PE, art and the librarians - just wow. They are all at the top of their game. They love kids and love learning. This place is incredible.

Posted: November 12, 2015

Homework at Eakin is right on the mark. Homework is light in the early years and builds. By 3rd grade there is a lot of homework due at the end of the week. Students learn to work to manage time, complete tasks and be responsible. There is a lot to learn in 3rd grade! Multiplication facts, for example. That has to be reinforced nightly to gain mastery. By 3rd grade, there is a lot, but it is appropriate to where they are in their growth. Forth grade takes it to the next level with homework being due daily. I love this because as kids move on to middle school they have to manage writing down homework, bringing home books, and getting things done. Forth grade moves kids to be independent. I really love that. They are ready for it and it will serve them well as they continue in their academic careers.

Posted: November 12, 2015

Absolutely. Eakin is an IB World School that focuses on the 10 IB Characteristics which include Reflective, Principled, and Caring. There is also a huge focus on RESPECT through Eakin's behavior model of "SOARing." Each morning students recite the Eakin Character Pledge - "I am and Eakin Eagle. Today I will SOAR: be safe, be on-task, act responsibly and show respect." Teachers, parents and administrators model this daily for students.

Posted: November 12, 2015

I simply cannot express in words how much the community, teachers & admin have helped my now 4th grader absolutely THRIVE over the last 5 years. She is a gifted learner who has been challenged academically, who has grown socially and who has absolutely transformed from a shy, guarded kindergartner into an amazing learner, risk-taker, and caring global citizen who I am proud to know.

In her time here she has become fluent in sign-lanuage and has developed close friendships with a deaf girl who is so much different from herself. This is just how Eakin is - children finding common ground and forming deep relationships with diverse friends. It is more powerful than you can know until you are here and feel the rich tapestry of this community.

In her time here she has had a spark of learning lit under her. She loves to read, craves science knowledge and shines in the independent projects she works on. As a gifted student, she is in Encore weekly, gets Genius Time to work on projects of interest plus gets 45 minutes a week in Maker Space with other high-level peers. Encore is learning about DNA and Space on an 8th grade level. At breakfast she asked about quantum physics and wants to be an astro-biologist to study life on other planets. I cannot imagine being more thrilled with the quality of academics.

Eakin is just the whole package. A place where all kids can succeed and be loved. Plus, its totally FREE. Eakin is proof about how public school can work. Eakin gives me hope every day that diverse families can live, work, learn and serve together. Eakin gives me hope for the future. Honestly. I love this place.

Posted: October 29, 2015

We are new in this city and Eakin gave us the feeling of being a family. My daughter loves every day at her school and cannot wait the next day. She loves her teacher, clubs, new friends, and learning Chinese. I cannot imagine better school for her. We know that if any one of us would ever need a help, the Eakin family is there for us. The PTO and principal are doing wonderful job making this school a place you want to be. Go Eagles!

Posted: October 29, 2015

Teachers do their bests. And they have an army of volunteers to help them with the ones that needs more time to learn.

Posted: October 29, 2015

The kindergarten kids have no homework, unless they did not finish their task at school. The older students get just right homework, they still have time to play after school.

Posted: October 29, 2015

Posted: October 13, 2015

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Posted: October 13, 2015

Our child is now in his 5th year (4th grade) at Eakin and we have been happy with every single teacher. The Eakin community is welcoming and inclusive, and teachers, staff and administrators have worked with us as a family to help our child thrive in school. The parents are very engaged and there are so many enrichment activities -- including a long list of after school clubs including sports -- to choose from. We are proud to be an Eakin family!

Posted: August 13, 2015

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Posted: August 13, 2015

Posted: August 13, 2015

Love, love the teachers, the school community and how it's ONE big family... Lots of knowledge sharing, respect & care for our kids

Posted: August 12, 2015

We love Eakin. This is our second year there, with two kids attending. All of the teachers at the school are engaged, organized, demanding, loving, and, most importantly, desperately committed to all of the children. We have been nothing but pleased with the school administration, staff, and PTO. It is truly a wonderful community school, and we have never questioned or second-guessed our decision to send our children to Eakin instead of a local private school.

Posted: August 11, 2015

Eakin has wonderful qualified teachers and faculty who care about students. The diverse student body, the caring community and awesome PTO only add to the excellent education our daughter is receiving. I honestly feel like Eakin can compete with any private school.

Posted: May 18, 2015

We love this school! We have a soon to be 2nd grader and in coming Kindergartener and we are so glad we made the choice to lottery into Eakin.

Posted: May 7, 2015

Terrific neighborhood school with a great principle and tireless PTO! The aftercare program is an incredible resource.

Posted: May 7, 2015

We love Eakin! We were new to Eakin this year, and we've been blown away by the quality of the teaching, the incredible child-centered focus, and the enthusiastic involvement of the PTO. Eakin is truly a great school!

Posted: May 6, 2015

Our school rocks. The faculty, and staff are wonderful to work with. I enjoy seeing all the students and parents. The students have a special place in my heart. I want to always be there for them. Thankful to be a part of this school.

Posted: April 13, 2015

This school is great and really gives you the world. great after school activities. best of all is diversity and teachers.

Posted: March 17, 2015

Continuation, page 5...Parents, read the breakdown in the scoring...Eakin was a 7 or 8 for the white students, but a disappointing 2 for black students...is this due to the inability of the African American children to thrive academically?...or is this due to lack of teacher encouragement and involvement with these children, while they ensure that the white students are receiving the encouragement, grouping, and attention they need to have a solid academic foundation that carries them through the upper grade levels?...the latter, I would confidently say.

Posted: January 25, 2015

We love Eakin! We had heard such good things about Eakin, but we were still so nervous having our little guy start Kindergarten. I'm so happy to report that everything about Eakin has exceeded our expectations. The kindergarten team is outstanding! The PTO is incredibly strong and active. The IB program is stellar. We are grateful for this experience, and we're delighted that our son is excited to go to school everyday.

Posted: December 15, 2014

We are raising our children as global citizens and Eakin couldn't be a better fit. The IB program has enriched our whole family. A beautifully diverse community, strong parent support, top notch teachers addressing each and every child's needs, outstanding administrative leadership, supportive PTO with real world concerns/goals, huge variety of after school clubs, impressive Related Arts program, and the list goes on & on....come see for yourself.....Eakin gives you the world!

Posted: October 11, 2014

The caliber of faculty and administration (esp. Timothy Drinkwine and Tara Loba), a 360 approach to the student, an abundantly diverse population, and a loving community make Eakin Elementary the choice for our family. We live nearby and love to bike with our kids to school. After school club opportunities are phenomenal--the best I've seen offered by a public school. The parent body is passionate, involved, and concerned for all members of the Eakin community. We have loved our first two years (2 children in attendance) at Eakin.

Posted: September 14, 2014

This is our second year at Eakin and we couldn't be happier. It is a diverse school both in its student body and in its offerings. The curriculum includes Chinese language instruction and ample time in art, music, technology, and physical education, as well as solid foundations in literacy and math. There are countless clubs ranging from chess to gardening and math to soccer. Parents actively participate, which leads to a strong sense of community. And, perhaps more than anything, the school has an amazing faculty and staff. Dr. Drinkwine has been a great leader in his short tenure; I've been particularly impressed by his ability and willingness to communicate with parents and always show enthusiasm. The teachers our son has had have been dedicated, creative, and nurturing. Eakin offers an unparalleled opportunity for children to be exposed to a variety of individuals, ideas, and experiences to cultivate a global perspective. We feel lucky that our son can attend.

Posted: September 13, 2014

Eakin has been a wonderful experience for our family. The teachers are excellent and the diversity that our children have been exposed to has helped them to be more balanced and excepting of all individuals. My son was able to qualify to lottery for an academic magnet middle school and he has be excellng. I thank Eakin for helping to lay that foundation!

Posted: September 8, 2014

My family has been an Eakin family for the past 5 yrs. We have had an amazing experience and are so glad that we chose to send our children to our neighborhood school. The teachers are wonderful and supportive of the children and of each other. Class sizes are small enough that teachers really know their students and their strengths and weaknesses. The administration and PTO work to connect the teachers and the parents and foster a sense community. Eakin has a very diverse student body, which we love. Every day I walk my kids to class. Today I heard a father specking French to his child. I watched my son hug his teacher good morning. I saw children greeting their Chinese teacher in the hall. I walked my daughter down to her kindergarten class from last year, so she could see the new smart board. I saw a mother offer to come in and help a teacher with workbooks. Eakin truly "gives students the world."

Posted: September 8, 2014

We love Eakin Elementary. My son is in third grade and is thriving. The teachers are excellent and we love the new principal Dr. Drinkwine. A terrific experience since day one!

Posted: September 7, 2014

2014-2015 PTO president is knowledgeable and funny. She makes volunteering for the school a fun event. It's truly a pleasure to work with passionate parents who go over and beyond the call of duty to ensure Eakin is THE BEST school in Nashville. Dr. Drinkwine (principal) is pretty awesome as well, bringing technology to inform, engage and empower staff, students and parents. I love seeing all the tweets and facebook posts about all the amazing things going on at Eakin. It takes a village to raise kids and our village is OUTSTANDING. Happy Parent!

Posted: September 2, 2014

Eakin Family! Having grown up in middle Tennessee all my life, I consider it a privilege and an honor to partner with the great Eakin community of parents, students, and teachers by serving as Principal of Eakin Elementary School! I am a native Nashvillian, born and raised in Music City, and I graduated from John Overton High School in 1998. After high school graduation, I went on to the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga on a Division I wrestling scholarship and completed my degree in the School of Education with a focus in Secondary Education and a specific concentration in the Social Sciences. After completing my undergraduate degree, my hometown of Nashville was calling me back, so it did not take me long to move, to begin my teaching career at Gra-Mar Middle School. At Gra-Mar, I served at-risk students in inner-city Nashville while teaching World Geography and Literature to seventh graders. Being a consummate and lifelong learner, I set out to complete a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership during my time in Metro-Nashville Public Schools. I graduated with that degree in 2006 from Trevecca Nazarene University. Upon completion of my Masters Degree, I was recruited to Williamson County Schools to assist in opening Sunset Middle School in 2006. I taught seventh grade World Geography and eighth grade U.S. History as well as Teen Leadership while at Sunset Middle. In addition to teaching and facilitating content, you could find me coaching soccer, coaching wrestling, serving on various leadership teams, and assisting with numerous community service activities during my tenure as a classroom educator. After seven years as an educator in the classroom, I was then recruited once again to assist a different Williamson County middle school when it opened its inaugural doors. I served Spring Station Middle School for four years as their Assistant Principal, from 2010-2014. During my time as a Williamson County school leader, I obtained a doctorate in Leadership and Professional Practice from Trevecca Nazarene University in the year 2013. Now, at this present time, I am humbled call myself Eakin's principal. I find myself here at Eakin to lead this community so that Each and Every Student at Eakin Elementary School has the very best education and learning experiences in the city, state, and country. When I am not assisting with the teaching and learning experience at Eakin, I like to participate in reading, watching sporting events live and on television, traveling, running marathons, serving at my local church, hanging out with my wife, Kaydee, our two children, Kyan and Tegan, and our long-haired dachshund, Edgar. Once you get to know me, it will not be long before you recognize that I bleed black and gold, and I'm an avid fan of the Vanderbilt Commodores! Even more than my beloved Commodores, I view my time with students, teachers, parents, and the overall school community to be one of utmost importance and significance. With a caring disposition and energetic and enthusiastic demeanor, I am always available for a conversation. I can be reached via email at Timothy.Drinkwine@mnps.org, or by phone at 615-298-8076.

Posted: August 20, 2014

My son is in third grade at Eakin, having attended since kindergarten, and I cannot speak highly enough of the teachers, the PTO and the community at Eakin. When I learned that this year our school has families representing over **30** different countries, speaking over 11 different languages, I felt so grateful. I love that my child gets to learn not only from top-notch teachers, many with advanced degrees and specializations, but also from kids of so many different backgrounds. Every teacher we've had (four now) has been 100% open to communicating about our son's needs, and open to working with us on helping provide the best environment for him not only to succeed, but to thrive. I am thankful to be at Eakin and we are thrilled with our new principal. We're looking forward to another great year. Go Eagles!

Posted: August 20, 2014

My experience as an Eakin father over the past few years has been tremendous. From my son's kindergarten class with 8 languages to the well attended school functions, I appreciate the international and engaged nature of the school. I have always felt heard as a parent and despite any gripes I may have about district level mandated testing, I believe my son's teachers have done the very best within the structure. A true neighborhood school!

Posted: August 19, 2014

Right on to the poster who posted on August 19th. You coulldn't have said it or broken it down any better. So True the way narrow-minded individuals constantly labeled children/people according to their race. It's interesting how the same behavior is identified differently according to a person race or social status.

Posted: August 19, 2014

My son is in first grade now, so we've only been here a bit over a year. But based on the experience so far, I would be hard pressed to design a much better school for our goals for our kids. The school is unbelievably diverse, both racially and economically -- highly unusual for any school, let alone a school in Nashville. The demographic mix is both healthy in theory and successful and harmonious in practice. The teachers have been responsive and supportive. The parents are VERY involved in the school. We had a very good principal last year and were concerned when a new one came on board this year, but so far he seems first rate - very positive, supportive, responsive, and super-energetic. The kids take Chinese and music courses as part of the curriculum, and my son takes after-school tennis lessons, after-school soccer, cub scouts, onsite Encore program, you-name-it. Very happy parents.

Posted: January 8, 2014

Enough of the ranting. Eakin is a great public school. We've been there for 6 years now. It is the true definition of diversity and education for all. Eakin represents 25 countries and a wide range of socio-economic levels. What I love about Eakin is how there is no "right" way to be, no "right" clothes to wear, and no "right" person to be friends with. At many schools the cliques are starting younger and younger, not at Eakin. I'll admit that we have had some behavior issues in the past few years, but the administration heard the voices of concerned parents and started out this year with new staff, a school-wide behavior system, and renewed effort to make a safe, learning environment for all students. I like Eakin and so do my kids. Check it out!

Posted: August 10, 2013

Eakin use to be a neighborhood school but now half the children are on the free lunch program and dominate the teachers' time with behavioral problems.

Posted: October 28, 2012

We have two children in Eakin and we have been very impressed with the caring teachers and staff at Eakin. The walkable neighborhood in which the school resides, nearby Dragon Park, is as welcoming as the school is to parental involvement. My only complaint is that too much time is being spent teaching toward the bottom. While my kids have both learned a lot, "average" kids in private schools like USN are already doing the same types of work I have to give my kid separately at home (e.g. multiplication in 2nd grade, etc.) On balance, Eakin--along with Glendale, Julia Green, and Sylvan Park--is one of the few public schools in Nashville where you will be happy to send your kids. The rich and diverse experience we've had there has been positively wonderful.

Posted: October 28, 2012

Having been an Eakin parent for the last few years,our overall experience has been a positive one. But there are some negatives. A school can't stand and thrive alone on its reputation. Sadly,l believe this is what is happening. A definite plus is the diversity. I don't think its matched in many public or private school. The numerous offerings rival those of the the private world. But the quality of classroom instruction is shifting and not in a positive way. An IB denotation for a school is tremendous and IB preparation exceeds AP at the higher levels, but ask your kid what they are truly learning that reflects IB standards and I think you'd be hard pressed to walk away with understanding. While there are "some" teachers at each grade level who are OUTSTANDING educators, that number is only 2 or 3 (if you are lucky) per grade level which means if you land in one of the less than outstanding classrooms, GOOD LUCK to you. A walk around the hallways will provide you with more than enough insight as to whom displays quality instruction. We are making a move to private school. Not simply b/c the downward slope of Eakin but the MNPS district as a whole is on a significant decline.

Posted: August 9, 2012

What do you base this on? Do you still feel this way? I have been impressed so far and would like to know if you are still at Eakin.