The Bradford Special School District was established through a private legislature act in 1917. For the following sixty years the system operated as both an independent district and as a part of the Gibson County School System until July 1977 when the board of trustees, fearing consolidation, voted to become an independent operating system. During the summer of 1978, the old high school building burned. It had been the central building for the school system since the early 1900’s but was condemned by the state fire marshal in 1974. It was during this time that the local board had to make a decision as to whether to consolidate with Gibson County, or attempt to become an independent district. A majority of the board wanted to become a special school district. The board had recently purchased a tract of land on which to build a new high school, but the citizens of Bradford overwhelmingly favored rebuilding on the same lot, therefore construction was begun in 1979 with a three phase plan and was completed in 1981. The building housed grades 7 – 12 with a total student population of approximately 320 students. The numbers have consistently remained about the same for the past twenty years. The Bradford elementary school was completed in 1951 with additions in 1957, 1970 and 1976. Today the school has approximately 325 enrolled in grades K – 6. This figure has fluctuated only slightly for the past several years. The combined numbers including the two new pre-K classes is a little less than 700 students. The Bradford faculty is one of the best educated and most experienced in the entire state. A high percentage of the present faculty has post graduate degrees, and turnover among teachers is very small. During the 2002 school year, a new multi-purpose building was constructed which serves as a gym for the elementary students, and a facility for the community events. A pre-K program was added in 2001 – 2002, and another in 2005 – 2006.
The mission of the Gibson County Special School District is to create learning communities empowering every child to reach their potential in a safe environment. We believe education is a partnership between schools, parents, and communities. We believe that a variety of instructional methods should be utilized to meet the needs of every individual student. We believe the district must be committed to provide a safe, nurturing environment for every student. We believe it is imperative to hold ourselves accountable for student growth and performance. We believe that student improvement is the driving force behind every decision made in our district.
The Mission of the Humboldt City School System is Community, Pride, Success. The Humboldt City School System's curriculum is derived from our Tennessee State Standards. Humboldt has embraced the new state standards and is constantly planning instruction, training teachers, and assessing data to stay competitive in our educational market. The school system provides a quality education providing students with the latest technology, advanced placement courses, extra-curricular activities along with various mentoring programs, and a family resource department.
The mission of the Milan Special School District is to create a safe and inviting learning environment where all students have high expectations, learn to their maximum potential, and are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to achieve their individual goals.
The special school district, which was founded in 1975, is located in the city of Trenton, Gibson County, Tennessee. Approximately fourteen hundred students in the city and surrounding area are served in three schools and a community resource center. With a rich history of academic and extra curricular success the district is proudly supported by its stakeholders.