The school was established as segregatioDn academy in response to the court ordered racial integration of public schools. In 1980, headmaster James Lowe said that he founded the school because "public education has changed since bussing."[2]
Donelson Christian Academy has undergone multiple construction and renovation projects to accommodate growing enrollment, meet modern standards, and recover from natural disasters In 1997, the first floor of the high school wing, now housing 7th and 8th grade science classrooms, high school weight and recovery rooms, locker rooms, and the Nate Bargatze Gymnasium (formerly the high school gym) was completed. In 2003, the second floor was added, featuring additional classrooms and dedicated spaces for band, choir, and theatre. Following flood damage in 2010, the campus received repairs and updates to classrooms and common areas. In 2020, the elementary school and cafeteria were rebuilt to enhance functionality. Most recently, in 2025, the middle school wing was updated with new flooring, modern light fixtures, minimalistic color schemes, and Promethean boards in both middle and high school classrooms.
Accreditation and Memberships
In 1980, Donelson prioritized hiring teachers based on their Christian beliefs, even if they lacked undergraduate degrees. The school's primitive campus, said to resemble a trailer park, precluded accreditation.[4]
Donelson Christian Academy has sports teams in softball, baseball, tennis, bowling, volleyball, wrestling, and football. In 2011, its tennis team qualified for the state championship. It sent a male doubles team and a female, both of which brought home medals. In 2012, the boy's basketball team won the state championship. In 2021, 2004, 1996, and 1988, the Division II-A HS football team won the state championship. In 2025, the girls' HS softball team won a state championship. [6]
The school offers fine arts in the forms of band, theatre, visual arts, and choir. DCA also offers their competitive marching band, Wildcat Marching Band, and their show choir, Legacy.[7] The school hosted its first competition, the Music City Show Choir Invitational, in 2020; the contest was held less than a week before the school was hit by a tornado.[8]
Notable alumni
Nate Bargatze – American stand-up comedian and host of the Nateland Podcast.
Hillary Scott – Country music singer and songwriter. Co-lead singer of Lady A.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
