KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) — A federal judge has sided with Wilberforce Academy of Knoxville in a closely watched legal battle over whether a religious charter school can participate in Tennessee’s public charter school program.
U.S. District Judge Charles Atchley ruled that the Knox County Board of Education cannot deny Wilberforce Academy’s charter school application solely because the school is religious in nature. The decision marks a significant victory for the proposed Christian academy, which has argued that Tennessee’s charter school restrictions violate constitutional protections for religious freedom.
Wilberforce Academy, planned for the Cedar Bluff area, describes itself as an “unapologetically Christian” school and has proposed a curriculum built around three primary pillars: a biblical foundation, civics education and entrepreneurship training. School leaders have said enrollment would not be limited to Christian students.
The dispute began in November 2025 when the Knox County Board of Education denied Wilberforce’s application for charter status. Tennessee law currently prohibits religious schools from participating in the state’s charter school program, despite charter schools receiving public funding.
In a lawsuit filed the following month, Wilberforce argued that excluding religious organizations from the charter school program violates the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause by treating religious groups differently from nonreligious applicants.
Judge Atchley’s ruling largely agreed with that argument. He concluded that privately operated charter schools are not strictly government actors and therefore constitutional concerns regarding the separation of church and state do not apply in the same way critics have argued.
The ruling prevents Knox County Schools from rejecting future Wilberforce applications solely because of the school’s religious character. However, the decision does not automatically grant charter status and applies only to Wilberforce Academy and Knox County Schools rather than schools statewide.
Knox County Schools spokesperson Carly Harrington said the district is reviewing the ruling and considering its legal options, including a possible appeal.
Even with the court victory, Wilberforce Academy still faces hurdles before opening. The school missed the application deadline for its intended 2027-28 launch window and will need to submit a new application. The Knox County Board of Education could still deny that application for reasons unrelated to religion.
The case is expected to remain a focal point in the ongoing national debate over school choice, charter schools and the role of religion in publicly funded education.
