Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Magnet for Health Sciences and Engineering at Pearl High School (or simply MLK Magnet) is a public magnet high school located in Nashville, Tennessee. MLK includes grades 8–12,[4] and students enter through a lottery process similar to the other magnet schools in Nashville. The school's building was home to Pearl High School, established for African American students in Nashville. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
| Martin Luther King Magnet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
 | |
613 17th Avenue North , United States | |
| Coordinates | 36°09′42″N 86°48′02″W / 36.1617°N 86.8006°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Magnet High School |
| Motto | "Excellence is our hallmark." |
| Established | 1986 |
Principal | Angela McShepard-Ray |
| Grades | 8–12 |
| Enrollment | 1,219 (2023-2024)[1] |
| Colors | Royal blue and white [2] |
| Mascot | Royals[2] |
| Newspaper | The Royal Banner |
| Yearbook | King Chronicle |
| Website | mlk |
Pearl High School | |
| Built | 1937 |
| Architect | McKissack & McKissack |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 02000828[3] |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
History
editPearl High School was a school for African American students. Franklin Gatewood Smith served as its principal.[5] It was desegregated in 1971. It merged with another school to form Pearl-Cohn Comprehensive High School.
The original Pearl High School building, built in 1937 to house an African-American school, was commissioned in 1936 by the Public Works Administration (PWA) and was designed by McKissack and McKissack, a prominent African-American architectural firm.[6] The building features a red brick veneer and Art Deco stylistic elements, in an architectural style commonly used by the PWA and known as PWA Moderne. The building was expanded in 1945 and 1963, again with designs by McKissack and McKissack.[7]
The school was Nashville's first secondary magnet for grades 7-12. After Pearl High moved numerous times, settling at 17th Avenue in the 1950s and eventually to its current location at Pearl Cohn Comprehensive High School, MLK Magnet, originally named Martin Luther King, Jr. Magnet High School for the Health Sciences and Engineering, opened its doors in August 1986 at the former Pearl High with only grades 7–9, adding one grade per year until 1990 when it had its first graduating class of 25 students. A gymnasium was added to the building in 1995, designed by the Nashville architectural firm of Street, Dixon, Rick. The school's current name was adopted in 2001. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[7]
In 2023, it was announced that between 2024 and 2028, MLK would transition from a 7-12 to a 9-12 model. The middle school curriculum available at MLK would instead be introduced at Head Magnet Middle School.[4] The last 7th grade class at MLK attended during the 2025-2026 school year.
Student body
editMLK possesses one of the most diverse[clarification needed] student bodies in Nashville, with a majority enrollment of 55%[8] and an enrollment of economically disadvantaged students of 19%.[8] Over time, the faculty and student populations have diversified, along with the changing demographics of Nashville.
Distinctions
editMLK is known for its academic program, focusing on math, science, and engineering. The school also has exceptional art, foreign language, band, and orchestra programs. This academic magnet school only offers courses in Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) with the exception of physical education, certain engineering, and critical thinking courses.[9] In addition, MLK offers the unique Practica program as well as advanced and dual enrollment courses along with a partnership with the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt University.
In the 2007–2008 academic year MLK received the Siemens Award for Advanced Placement, for one of the best scientific and math-based academic programs in the country.[10] The school also has a renowned quiz bowl team - in 2007–2009, the school placed first at state competitions, second at the PACE national tournament in 2007, 13th at NAQT Nationals in 2007, and 7th at NAQT Nationals in 2008.[11] In addition, the MLK Magnet Mock Trial team reached the State competition in 2009 and 2011. They placed 7th in 2011 and took home Best Advocate for the Defense, Best Defense Witness.[12]
MLK Magnet is ranked in the top 113 of Newsweek's and U.S. News & World Report's annual rankings of the top public high schools in America and 2nd overall in Tennessee.[citation needed]
First Lady Michelle Obama gave the commencement speech for Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet School's graduation in 2013.
Enrollment
editStudents who want to go to MLK must have the academic requirements of 85 or above in all courses of the 1st semester. They must also receive "On track" or "Mastered" in their TN Ready Test of the previous year or current year. They can also qualify if they have good map scores in May (with grades) Head middle and Rose Park have a direct pathway to MLK if requirements are met. Students can also enter a lottery if they do not have a pathway to MLK. (requirements must be meet as well to enter lottery)
| 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newsweek Top Public High Schools | 90 (2)[13] | 56 (2)[14] | 30 (2)[15] | 23 (1)[16] | 56 (1)[17] | |
| U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools | 80 (2) [18] | 30 (2)[19] | 30 (2)[19] | 30 (2)[20] | 41 (2)[21] | 32 (1)[22] |
| U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools for Math and Science | 36 (1)[23] | 36 (1)[24] | ||||
(School's rank within Tennessee given in parentheses)
Sports
editMLK offers a variety of sports and competes regularly, as shown by numerous awards and rankings. MLK has also won 50 (25 Team and 25 individual) TSSAA championship titles.[25]
| Sport | Coach(es) | TSSAA Division | TSSAA Championship History |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baseball | Chase Wood, Paul Neil | Division I, Class 3A, Region 5, District 10 | N/A |
| Boys’ Basketball | Caden Anderson, Paul Neil, Joseph Walker | Division I, Class 3A, Region 5, District 10 | 8 Appearances (2023, 2005, 2004, 2001, 2000, 1997, 1996, 1991),
2 Team Champion titles (1996, 1991) |
| Girls’ Basketball | Melvin McCullogh, Mykeia McCullogh | Division I, Class 3A, Region 5, District 10 | 2 Appearances (2015, 2014),
1 Team Championship title (2015) |
| Bowling | Brian Stewart | Division I, Region 5, District 9 | 10 Individual Appearances (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2024) |
| Girls’ Bowling | Ron Moseley | Division I, Region 5, District 9 | 11 Individual Appearances (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025) |
| Cheerleading | Nikki Boleyjack | N/A | N/A |
| Boys’ Cross Country | Michael Gabrys | Division I, Class AA, Section 4 | 19 Team Appearances (1994, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025),
3 Team Runner-up titles (2024, 2012, 2007), 4 Team Championship titles (2025,[28] 2010, 2009, 2008), 27 Individual Appearances (1994, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025) 3 Individual Runner-up titles (2025, 2009, 2002), 2 Individual Champion titles (2012, 2011) |
| Girls’ Cross Country | Hollee Ally, Brandon Ally | Division I, Class AA, Section 4 | 13 Team Appearances (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024),
20 Individual Appearances (1996, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025) |
| Football (Partnership with Pearl-Cohn High school) | - | - | - |
| Girls’ Flag Football | Melvin McCullogh | Class A, Region 5 | N/A |
| Boys’ Golf | Caden Anderson | Division I, Class A, Region 5, District 9 | 3 Individual Appearances (2000, 2013, 2015) |
| Girls’ Golf | Caden Anderson | Division I, Class A, Region 5, District 9 | 1 Team Appearance (2017),
4 Individual Appearances (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) |
| Soccer | James Campbell, Melissa Farrow | Division I, Class AA, Region 5, District 10 | 2 Appearances (2023, 2010) |
| Girls’ Soccer | Melissa Farrow, Edras Vallecillo | Division I, Class AA, Region 5, District 10 | N/A |
| Girls’ Softball | Jemarcus McInnis, Eddie Martin, Jalin Randolph | Division I, Class 3A, Region 5, District 10 | N/A |
| Boys’ Tennis | Joseph Walker | Division I, Class A, Region 5, District 9 | 3 Appearances (2015, 2007, 2006),
1 Individual Champion (2007) |
| Girls’ Tennis | Joyce Eatherly | Division I, Class A, Region 5, District 9 | 1 Appearance (2008) |
| Boys’ Track and Field | Michael Gabrys, Brandon Ally, Hollee Ally | Division I, Class AA, Middle Section | 29 Team Appearances (1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025),
2 Team Runner-up titles (2012, 2004), 6 Team Champion titles (2023, 2022, 2013, 2010, 2009, 2005), 29 Individual Appearances (1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), 10 Individual Champions (2025, 2021, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2005, 2003, 2002) |
| Girls’ Track and Field | Ron Moseley, Christian Reynolds | Division I, Class AA, Middle Section | 45 Team Appearances (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2002, 2003, 2003, 2004, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2009, 2010, 2010, 2011, 2011, 2012, 2012, 2013, 2013, 2014, 2014, 2015, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2022, 2023, 2023, 2024, 2025),
5 Team Runner-up titles (2024, 2022, 2017, 2009, 1997), 12 Team Champion titles (2025, 2023, 2022, 2017, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2007, 2000, 1997, 1996), 47 Individual Appearances (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2002, 2003, 2003, 2004, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2009, 2010, 2010, 2011, 2011, 2012, 2012, 2013, 2013, 2014, 2014, 2015, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2022, 2023, 2023, 2024, 2024, 2025, 2025), 12 Individual Champion titles (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2017, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2004, 2002, 1997) |
| Girls’ Volleyball | Fallan Lloyd Lloyd, Leslie Coffey, Elisa Ray | Division I, Class AA, Region 5, District 10 | N/A |
| Wrestling | Ronquai Love, Ravin Kapadia, Avery Martin | Division I, Class A, Region 7, District 13 | 25 Appearances (2023, 2022, 2021, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1993, 1992, 1991) |
| Girls’ Wrestling | Avery Martin, Ravin Kapadia | Region 7 | N/A |
Middle School Sports:[29]
- Boys'/girls' Basketball
- Boys'/girls' Cross Country
- Football (Partnership with Moses McKissack Middle School)
- Girls' Flag Football (Partnership with Head Middle School)
- Cheerleading
- Boys'/girls' Soccer
- Boys'/girls' Track and Field
- Girls' Volleyball
- Wrestling
Rivals
editMLK Magnet's sports and academic rival is Hume-Fogg High School located less than 2 miles from the school.
Notable alumni
editPearl High School
edit- Les Hunter, professional All-Star basketball player, NCAA champion
- Ted McClain, professional basketball player
- Vivien Thomas, who helped to develop surgical techniques to treat blue baby syndrome and was subject of documentary "Partners of the Heart," attended Pearl High School in 1920s
- Perry Wallace, first African American SEC basketball player
- Norman Thomas "Turkey" Stearnes, class of 1922, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Negro league baseball player from 1923-1940
Magnet School
edit- Anthony Davis, Tennessee State Representative
- Jim Gilliam, Major League Baseball player (1953-1966), 4-time World Series champion
- Cary Ann Hearst, musician
- Eiman Jahangir, cardiologist, astronaut on Blue Origin NS-26, first Iranian-American male astronaut
- Dee Rees, screenwriter
- Gerald Robinson, professional basketball player for AS Monaco Basket
- Mageina Tovah, actress known for her role in Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3 movies as Ursula Ditkovitch and on TV show Joan of Arcadia as Glynis Figliola.
- Clay Travis, conservative political commentator
References
edit- ↑ "Martin Luther King Jr School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- 1 2 "Martin Luther King High School". Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
- 1 2 "MLK Pathway - Head Middle School". head.mnps.org. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
- ↑ Mather, Frank Lincoln (1915). "Who's who of the Colored Race: A General Biographical Dictionary of Men and Women of African Descent".
- ↑ "Pearl High School: Nashville, Tennessee". African American History Month. National Park Service. 2003. Archived from the original on September 8, 2007.
- 1 2 Stoecker, Jen; Van West, Carroll (c. 2001). "Pearl High School (Martin Luther King Magnet), Nashville". Center for Historic Preservation, Middle Tennessee State University.
- 1 2 "Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet at Pearl High School in NASHVILLE, TN - Best High Schools - US News". Retrieved October 5, 2014.
- ↑ "Martin Luther King, JR. - ACademic magnet high school". Archived from the original on July 19, 2011.
- ↑ "Students in Pursuit of Math & Science Challenges Honored With 2007–08 Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement" (PDF). February 21, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 28, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
- ↑ "National Academic Quiz Tournaments, LLC". Retrieved October 5, 2014.
- ↑ "2011 Mock Trial Results". Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
- ↑ "America's Best High Schools 2012 - the Daily Beast". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on May 21, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
- ↑ "Top Public High Schools 2010 - Newsweek". Newsweek. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
- ↑ "America's Top Public High Schools | Newsweek Best High Schools | Newsweek.com". www.newsweek.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2009.
- ↑ "America's Top Public High Schools | Newsweek Best High Schools | Newsweek.com". www.newsweek.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2007.
- ↑ "America's Best High Schools: The List - the Daily Beast". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on August 17, 2011. Retrieved November 27, 2011.
- ↑ "Best High School Rankings Page 4: #76–100". Archived from the original on May 25, 2012. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
- 1 2 "Top Magnet Schools - U.S. News & World Report". Archived from the original on April 23, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
- ↑ "Gold Medal Schools 2009 - U.S. News & World Report". Archived from the original on December 13, 2009. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
- ↑ "Top Magnet Schools 2008 - U.S. News & World Report". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
- ↑ "Gold Medal Schools 2007 - U.S. News & World Report". Retrieved October 5, 2014.
- ↑ "Best High Schools for Math and Science 2012 - U.S. News & World Report". Archived from the original on April 14, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
- ↑ "Best High Schools for Math and Science 2011 - U.S. News & World Report". Archived from the original on April 14, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
- ↑ Archived November 11, 2025, at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ https://portal.tssaa.org/common/directory/?id=575 Archived November 11, 2025, at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ https://mlk.mnps.org/arts-athletics-clubs/athleticsArchived November 11, 2025, at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ https://tn.milesplit.com/meets/701989-tssaa-xc-di-class-aa-state-championship-meet-2025/results/1240308/formatted/
- ↑ https://portal.tssaa.org/common/directory/?id=1240
External links
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