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Nashville Chess Center

Chess for Children

Bringing high-quality chess instruction directly to schools and communities throughout Middle Tennessee.

Building Young Minds Through Chess

Since 1995, the Nashville Chess Center (NCC) has partnered with public, private, charter, and home schools throughout Middle Tennessee to make chess education accessible to students of all ages and skill levels.

Since 2000, our school programs, camps, tournaments, and other activities have consistently reached more than 1,000 young people each year.

What We Offer

NCC provides schools with the instructors, curriculum, equipment, and support needed to operate a successful chess program.

Qualified Instructors
Experienced chess coaches provide age-appropriate instruction for students from beginner through advanced levels.
Chess Equipment
NCC provides the chess sets, boards, clocks, and instructional equipment needed for each program.
Progressive Curriculum
Students develop their skills through structured lessons, guided practice, puzzles, games, and competition.
Competitive Chess
Students can develop the skills and experience needed to participate in scholastic tournaments and competitive teams.
Online Learning
Eligible programs may include online curriculum support through ChessKid to encourage learning between club meetings.
NCC Community
Eligible programs may include Nashville Chess Center membership and opportunities to participate in the wider Nashville chess community.
More Than a Game

The Benefits of Chess

Chess challenges students to slow down, evaluate possibilities, make decisions, and learn from the consequences of those decisions. Through regular instruction and play, students practice skills that extend well beyond the chessboard.

Problem Solving
Develop logical reasoning, planning, calculation, and critical-thinking skills. 		Concentration
Practice sustained attention and thoughtful decision-making.
Patience & Confidence
Learn persistence while developing confidence through practice and improvement. 		Academic Skills
Exercise skills that support mathematical reasoning, reading, planning, and analysis.

Decades of Scholastic Chess Experience

The Nashville Chess Center has been actively involved with scholastic chess since its establishment in 1995. Over the years, NCC has worked with public schools, independent schools, charter schools, home-school communities, libraries, and community organizations throughout Middle Tennessee.

Our goal is not simply to teach students how the pieces move. We want students to understand the game, develop their skills, learn good sportsmanship, build confidence, and discover a game they can enjoy throughout their lives.

Bringing Chess to Your School

NCC works with each school to create a program that fits its students, schedule, and community.

1. Partner with NCC
School administrators work with the Nashville Chess Center to establish the schedule, grade levels, program length, and other details.
2. Students Register
Once a program is approved, families receive information about the chess club and register their students for the program.
3. NCC Provides the Program
NCC provides experienced instructors, curriculum, chess sets, equipment, and the organization needed to operate each session.
4. Students Keep Growing
Students progress from the fundamentals of chess to tactics, strategy, notation, tournament play, and increasingly advanced concepts.
Start a Program

Interested in a Chess Club at Your School?

Whether you are a school administrator, teacher, parent, or community leader, we would be happy to discuss bringing a Nashville Chess Center program to your students.

Email NCC (629) 254-4737
Our Reach

Schools & Organizations We've Served

Over the years, Nashville Chess Center programs have reached students at schools, libraries, community centers, and educational organizations throughout Middle Tennessee.

Agathos Classical School
Bailey Middle School
Bass Middle School
Battle Ground Academy
Bellevue Home School
Bellevue Library
Bellshire Design Center
Brentwood Library
Cameron Middle School
Carter Lawrence Elementary
Christ Presbyterian Academy
Christ the King School
Crieve Hall Elementary
Crockett Elementary
Croft Middle Design Center
Curry-Ingram Academy
Dan Mills Elementary
Donelson Christian Academy
Donelson Middle School
Eakin Elementary School
Easley Community Center
East End Prep
Edmondson Elementary
Ensworth School
Explore! Community School
Franklin Classical School
Franklin Road Academy
Glencliff High School
Glencliff Elementary School
Gra-Mar Middle School
Granbery Elementary
Grassland Elementary
Grassland Middle School
Harding Academy
Harpeth Valley Elementary
Hattie Cotton Elementary
Head Magnet School
Heritage Elementary
Highland Heights Middle
Holy Rosary Elementary
Hume-Fogg Magnet High
Hull-Jackson Elementary
Indian Lake Elementary
J.T. Moore Middle School
Jere Baxter Middle School
John Early Middle School
Julia Green Elementary
Kenrose Elementary
KIPP Academy
The Kirkpatrick Center
Lawson High School
LEAD Academy
Lighthouse Christian School
Linden Corner School
Linden Waldorf School
Lipscomb Academy Elementary
Lipscomb Academy Middle
Lipscomb Elementary
Lockeland Design Center
Maplewood High School
Margaret Maddox YMCA
Meigs Magnet School
Meigs Middle School (Decatur, TN)
Montessori Academy
Montessori East
Murfreesboro YMCA
Napier Elementary School
Nashville Classical School
Nashville Christian Academy
Nashville Prep.
Oak Hill School
Our Savior Lutheran Academy
Overbrook School
Page High School
Page Middle School
Pearl-Cohn High School
Pennington Elementary
Percy Priest Elementary
Percy Priest High School
Pope John Paul High School
Rosebank Elementary
Ross Elementary School
Rutherford Tutorial Academy
Shayne Elementary
St. Bernard's Academy
St. Edwards School
St. Paul Christian Academy
Stanford Montessori School
Strive Collegiate Academy
Sunset Elementary
Sylvan Park Elementary
Thales Academy
Thomas Edison Elementary
Two Rivers Middle School
University School of Nashville
Valor Collegiate Academy
Warner Arts Magnet Elementary School
West End Middle School
Westhaven Community Center
Westmeade Elementary
Whitsitt Elementary School
Wright Middle School