NASHVILLE — A third former Metro Nashville Public Schools educator has alleged grade manipulation within the district, prompting the Tennessee Department of Education’s civil rights division to launch an investigation into academic dishonesty at Stratford High School. The investigation was “immediately opened” following allegations of “academic dishonesty” and “misrepresentation” disproportionately affecting students of color, as reported by WSMV4 Investigates. The allegations were made by Constance Wade, a former school counselor at Stratford High School who retired after 24 years with the district.
Wade, an award-winning educator, told WSMV4 Investigates, “I’m very disappointed in the district. I am angry,” and described the school as a “diploma mill.” This marks the third time a former MNPS educator has claimed grades were changed to improve graduation numbers, following two earlier reports from former teachers at different schools.
Wade detailed her concerns in emails, including a 2022 message to Superintendent Dr. Adrienne Battle about “credit recovery” practices at Stratford. Credit recovery allows students who fail or are set to fail a class to take a 50-question multiple-choice “test for credit,” where a score of 60 earns a D, a passing grade.
Wade wrote that students “recovered 10-12 classes in 2 to 3 days” and “recovered 4 failed courses in one day.” She provided test results to the state board of education showing a student who took tests for Integrated Math 1 and 2, spending 10 minutes on the first and 8 minutes on the second, passing both with a grade of 64.
Wade alleged students were “Googling the answers” and that teachers reviewed tests before submission, telling students, “oh, you missed that one, go back and correct it.” MNPS declined an interview, issuing a statement saying it is cooperating with the state investigation. The district noted Wade filed a grievance against Stratford’s principal, Dr. Michael Pratt, documenting instances of students receiving credit for courses they never took; a district investigation did not substantiate her claims.
MNPS stated Wade was advised to bring concerns to Principal Pratt, and that its 2025 grievance investigation, conducted by an Executive Director of Schools, found no substantiation. The district affirmed its cooperation with the Tennessee Department of Education’s civil rights division and cited a 2019 case involving former principal Michael Steele, who received a three-day suspension over Edgenuity course administration.
