Best Buddies Friendship programs represent one of our organization’s four key mission pillars. These programs build one-to-one friendships between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), offering social interactions while improving the quality of life and level of inclusion for a population that is often isolated and excluded. Through their participation, people with IDD form meaningful connections with their peers, gain self-confidence and self-esteem, and share interests, experiences and activities that many other individuals enjoy.
BESTBUDDIES® Elementary Schools
Builds connections and community between young students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through inclusive activities and social-emotional learning tools that promote one-to-one friendship, acceptance, and interaction at an early age.
Join a chapter
BESTBUDDIES® Middle Schools
Fosters one-to-one friendships between middle school students with and without IDD, in which they share interests, experiences, and activities. Students with IDD are often isolated and left out of social activities. Best Buddies Middle Schools helps to create an inclusive middle school culture for all students early on in their educational development.
Join a chapter
BESTBUDDIES® High Schools
Fosters one-to-one friendships between high school students with and without IDD. In this time of heightened social and emotional development that can be difficult even for teenagers without IDD, the Best Buddies High Schools program helps break through social barriers at an important time in a young person’s life.
Join a chapter
BESTBUDDIES® Colleges
Fosters one-to-one friendships between college students without IDD and their peers on campus or in the community with IDD. Young adults with IDD historically have been isolated at home or in work environments. The Best Buddies Colleges program is changing this by providing the opportunity for people with IDD to be involved in their local campus and community life.
Join a chapter
BESTBUDDIES® Citizens
Supports the development of friendships between adults with and without IDD in corporate and civic communities. Many people with IDD have limited opportunities for social interactions after they leave the school environment. This program helps people with IDD become part of mainstream society and creates an inclusive and diverse community for all.
Join a program
e-Buddies ®
e-Buddies provides opportunities for volunteers with and without IDD to develop friendships online and create connections using the power of technology. The program provides the opportunity for members to connect through the e-Buddies social platform, which is designed to expand friendships and create shared experiences through virtual social events. Anyone age 13 and older can participate in e-Buddies. Our program is available throughout the United States and internationally for English-speaking people.
More Info
How our Friendship programs Work
Tennessee Chapter Listing
Elementary Schools 
Middle Schools
High Schools 
Colleges To join a chapter, click a school name below
Elementary Schools
- Altruria Elementary School (Bartlett, TN)
API address [ 6614 Deermont Drive, Bartlett, TN, 38134, US, null, null, 35.2158356, -89.8426047, null]
- Arlington Elementary (Arlington, TN)
API address [ 11825 Douglass St, Arlington, TN, 38002, US, null, null, 35.28568998690959, -89.66767199787668, null]
- Arrington Elementary School (Arrington, TN)
API address [ 6280 Cox Road, Arrington, TN, 37014, US, null, null, 35.8560425, -86.69731379999999, null]
- Carmel Elementary School (Clarksville, TN)
API address [ 4925 Sango Road, Clarksville, TN, 37043, US, null, null, 36.48390560000001, -87.1562168, null]
- Donelson Elementary- Bulldog Buddies (Arlington, TN)
API address [ 12140 Donelson Farms Pkwy, Arlington, TN, 38002, US, null, null, 35.2533337, -89.6585396, null]
- Henry Elementary School (Henry, TN)
API address [ 937 Pioneer Rd, Henry, TN, 38231, US, null, null, 36.2050297, -88.4112277, null]
- Huntingdon Primary School (Huntingdon, TN)
API address [ 191 Cox St E, Huntingdon, TN, 38344, US, null, null, 36.0106777, -88.4275904, null]
- Jack Anderson Elementary (Hendersonville, TN)
API address [ 250 Shute Ln, Hendersonville, TN, 37075-5829, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Jordan Elementary School (Brentwood, TN)
API address [ 9714 Split Log Road, Brentwood, TN, 37027, US, null, null, 35.9542028, -86.7271963, null]
- LEAD Southeast Elementary School (Nashville, TN)
API address [ 490 Metroplex Drive 200 Suite 200, Nashville, TN, 37211, US, null, null, 36.0905847, -86.7004288, null]
- Paris Elementary School (Paris, TN)
API address [ 650 Volunteer Dr, Paris, TN, 38242, US, null, null, 36.2923657, -88.304111, null]
- Percy Priest Elementary School (Nashville, TN)
API address [ 1700 Otter Creek Rd, Nashville, TN, 37215, US, null, null, 36.0621835, -86.8338488, null]
- Pope School (Jackson, TN)
API address [ 1071 Old Humboldt Road, Jackson, TN, 38305, US, null, null, 35.7136645, -88.8590936, null]
- Poplar Grove Elementary (Franklin, TN)
API address [ 2959 Del Rio Pike, Franklin, TN, 37069-8701, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Richland Elementary (Memphis, TN)
API address [ 5440 Rich Rd, Memphis, TN, 38120-1941, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- South Gibson County Elementary School (Medina, TN)
API address [ 100 Mt Zion Rd, Medina, TN, 38355, US, null, null, 35.8210542, -88.8131684, null]
- Sunset Elementary School (Brentwood, TN)
API address [ 100 Sunset Trail, Brentwood, TN, 37135, US, null, null, 35.9647397, -86.6849172, null]
- Sycamore Elementary (Collierville, TN)
API address [ 1155 Sycamore Road, Collierville, TN, 38017, US, null, null, 35.0123531, -89.68161479999999, null]
- Tusculum Elementary (Nashville, TN)
API address [ 440 McMurray Dr, Nashville, TN, 37211, US, null, null, 36.0637477, -86.7170714, null]
- W.G. Rhea Elementary School (Paris, TN)
API address [ 115 S Wilson St, Paris, TN, 38242-5029, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Middle Schools
- Arlington Middle School (Arlington, TN)
API address [ 5470 Lamb Rd, Arlington, TN, 38002-4486, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Brentwood Middle School (Brentwood, TN)
API address [ 5324 Murray Ln, Brentwood, TN, 37027-6205, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Colonial Middle School (Memphis, TN)
API address [ 1370 Colonial Rd, Memphis, TN, 38117-6636, US, null, null, 35.0932898, -89.9008917, null]
- Dorothy and Noble Harrelson School (Puryear, TN)
API address [ 143 Puryear Country Club Rd, Puryear, TN, 38251, US, null, null, 36.4310723, -88.3307633, null]
- Fairview Middle School (Fairview, TN)
API address [ 7200 Cumberland Dr, Fairview, TN, 37062-9710, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Heritage Middle School (Thompson's Station, TN)
API address [ 4803 Columbia Pike, Thompson's Station, TN, 37179, US, null, null, 35.7871157, -86.9181156, null]
- Huntingdon Middle School (Huntingdon, TN)
API address [ 199 Browning Avenue, Huntingdon, TN, 38344, US, null, null, 36.0062845, -88.4222362, null]
- Kirkwood Middle (Clarksville, TN)
API address [ 2700 Rossview Rd, Clarksville, TN, 37043, US, null, null, 36.5691049, -87.1941334, null]
- Lakewood School (Paris, TN)
API address [ 6745 US-79, Paris, TN, 38242, US, null, null, 36.3616483, -88.2116234, null]
- Legacy Middle School (Franklin, TN)
API address [ 2380 Henpeck Ln, Franklin, TN, 37064-5209, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Mill Creek Middle School (Nolensville, TN)
API address [ 200 York Trl, Nolensville, TN, 37135-2910, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Mount Juliet Middle School (Mt. Juliet, TN)
API address [ 3565 N Mt Juliet Rd, Mt. Juliet, TN, 37122-3047, US, null, null, 36.2195053, -86.51278049999999, null]
- Page Middle School (Franklin, TN)
API address [ 6262 Arno Rd, Franklin, TN, 37064-7901, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Poplar Grove Middle School (Franklin, TN)
API address [ 2959 Del Rio Pike, Franklin, TN, 37069-8701, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Riverdale Elementary School (Germantown, TN)
API address [ 7391 Neshoba Rd, Germantown, TN, 38138-2744, US, null, null, 35.1014539949137, -89.81694103675753, null]
- Rucker-Stewart Middle School (Gallatin, TN)
API address [ 350 Hancock Street, Gallatin, TN, 37066, US, null, null, 36.3747759, -86.46172229999999, null]
- South Gibson County Middle School (Medina, TN)
API address [ 1300 Middle School St, Medina, TN, 38355, US, null, null, 35.8238624, -88.80416100000001, null]
- Sunset Middle School (Nolensville, TN)
API address [ 200 Sunset Trail, Nolensville, TN, 37135-3524, US, null, null, 35.9647766, -86.6847348, null]
- Valor Voyager Academy (Nashville, TN)
API address [ 4531 Nolensville Pk, Nashville, TN, 37211-4732, US, null, null, 36.0690347, -86.72450460000002, null]
- W O Inman Middle School (Paris, TN)
API address [ 400 Harrison St, Paris, TN, 38242, US, null, null, 36.2912378, -88.33393230000001, null]
- West Middle School (Tullahoma, TN)
API address [ 90 Hermitage Dr, Tullahoma, TN, 37388, US, null, null, 35.3417418, -86.22910929999999, null]
- Whitthorne Middle School (Columbia, TN)
API address [ 915 Lion Pkwy, Columbia, TN, 38401-4605, US, null, null, null, null, null]
High Schools
- Arlington High School (Arlington, TN)
API address [ 5485 Airline Rd, Arlington, TN, 38002-4068, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Battle Creek High School (Spring Hill, TN)
API address [ 165 Battle Creek Way, Spring Hill, TN, 37174, US, null, null, 35.7071453, -86.9295145, null]
- Battle Ground Academy (Franklin, TN)
API address [ 336 Ernest Rice Ln, Franklin, TN, 37069-6507, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Brentwood High School (Brentwood, TN)
API address [ 5304 Murray Ln, Brentwood, TN, 37027-6205, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Cane Ridge High School (Nashville, TN)
API address [ 12848 Old Hickory Blvd, Nashville, TN, 37013-2407, US, null, null, 36.029865, -86.6197308, null]
- Centennial High School (Franklin, TN)
API address [ 5050 Mallory Ln, Franklin, TN, 37067-1398, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Collierville High School (Collierville, TN)
API address [ 11605 E Shelby Dr, Collierville, TN, 38017-9511, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Columbia Academy (Columbia, TN)
API address [ 1101 W 7th St, Columbia, TN, 38401-6440, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Columbia Central High School (Columbia, TN)
API address [ 921 Lion Pkwy, Columbia, TN, 38401-4605, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Evangelical Christian School (Memphis, TN)
API address [ 7600 Macon Rd, Memphis, TN, 38018-4900, US, null, null, 35.152247, -89.80890079999999, null]
- Fairview High School (Fairview, TN)
API address [ 2595 Fairview Blvd, Fairview, TN, 37062-9027, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Franklin County High School (Winchester, TN)
API address [ 833 Bypass Rd, Winchester, TN, 37398-2307, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Franklin High School (Franklin, TN)
API address [ 810 Hillsboro Rd, Franklin, TN, 37064-2014, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Germantown High School (Germantown, TN)
API address [ 7653 Poplar Pike, Germantown, TN, 38138-5967, US, null, null, 35.082793, -89.8076909, null]
- Green Hill High School (Mt. Juliet, TN)
API address [ 220 Old North Greenhill Rd, Mt. Juliet, TN, 37122-2670, US, null, null, 36.2275706, -86.5414095, null]
- Harpeth Hall School (Nashville, TN)
API address [ 3801 Hobbs Rd, Nashville, TN, 37215-2216, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Henry Co High School (Paris, TN)
API address [ 315 S Wilson St, Paris, TN, 38242, US, null, null, 36.2962069, -88.2943117, null]
- Hillsboro High School (Nashville, TN)
API address [ 3812 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN, 37215-2604, US, null, null, 36.115914, -86.8261399, null]
- Hume-Fogg High School (Nashville, TN)
API address [ 700 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, US, null, null, 36.1595518, -86.7817738, null]
- Independence High School (Thompson's Station, TN)
API address [ 1776 Declaration Way, Thompson's Station, TN, 37179-9674, US, null, null, 35.8245746, -86.89117560000001, null]
- Jackson Central-Merry High School (Jackson, TN)
API address [ 332 Lane Avenue, Jackson, TN, 38301, US, null, null, 35.626909, -88.8115176, null]
- L&N STEM Academy (Knoxville, TN)
API address [ 800 Worlds Fair Park Dr, Knoxville, TN, 37902, US, null, null, 35.9644047, -83.9247638, null]
- LEAD Southeast High School (Nashville, TN)
API address [ 531 Metroplex Dr, Nashville, TN, 37211-3140, US, null, null, 36.0927025, -86.70371109999999, null]
- Lipscomb Academy (Nashville, TN)
API address [ 3901 Granny White Pike, Nashville, TN, 37204, US, null, null, 36.1066693, -86.79558999999999, null]
- Martin Luther King School (Nashville, TN)
API address [ 613 17th Ave N, Nashville, TN, 37203-2816, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- McGavock High School (Nashville, TN)
API address [ 3150 McGavock Pk, Nashville, TN, 37214-1634, US, null, null, 36.1852282, -86.6797936, null]
- Milan High School (Milan, TN)
API address [ 7060 E Van Hook St, Milan, TN, 38358-6531, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville, TN)
API address [ 4001 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN, 37205-1956, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Mount Juliet High School (Mount Juliet, TN)
API address [ 1800 Curd Rd, Mount Juliet, TN, 37122-4500, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Nolensville High School (Nolensville, TN)
API address [ 1600 Summerlyn Dr, Nolensville, TN, 37135-1547, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Page High School (Franklin, TN)
API address [ 6281 Arno Rd, Franklin, TN, 37064-7902, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Ravenwood High School (Brentwood, TN)
API address [ 1724 Wilson Pike, Brentwood, TN, 37027-8105, US, null, null, 35.9556381, -86.7647576, null]
- Rhea County High School (Evensville, TN)
API address [ 885 Eagle Ln, Evensville, TN, 37332-3203, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Riverdale High School (Murfreesboro, TN)
API address [ 802 Warrior Drive, Murfreesboro, TN, 37128, US, null, null, 35.8168253, -86.40987179999999, null]
- Smyrna High School (Smyrna, TN)
API address [ 100 Bulldog Drive, Smyrna, TN, 37167, US, null, null, 35.9594973, -86.5076629, null]
- South Gibson County High School (Medina, TN)
API address [ 1000 Hornet Dr, Medina, TN, 38355-6941, US, null, null, 35.824051, -88.80347859999999, null]
- Summit High School (Spring Hill, TN)
API address [ 2830 Twin Lakes Dr, Spring Hill, TN, 37174-2976, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- The Webb School (Bell Buckle, TN)
API address [ 319 Webb Rd E, Bell Buckle, TN, 37020, US, null, null, 35.5892346, -86.34714919999999, null]
- University School of Nashville (USN) (Nashville, TN)
API address [ 2000 Edgehill Ave, Nashville, TN, 37212-2116, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Valor College Prep (Nashville, TN)
API address [ 4531 Nolensville Pk, Nashville, TN, 37211-4732, US, null, null, 36.0690347, -86.72450460000002, null]
- White Station High School (Memphis, TN)
API address [ 514 S Perkins Rd, Memphis, TN, 38117-3942, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Colleges
- Carson-Newman University (Jefferson City, TN)
API address [ 1646 Russell Ave, Jefferson City, TN, 37760-2204, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Cumberland University (Lebanon, TN)
API address [ June and Bill Heydel Fine Arts Center, Lebanon, TN, 37087-3408, US, null, null, 36.2052803, -86.2986062, null]
- East Tennessee State University (Johnson City, TN)
API address [ Burgin E. Dossett Hall, Johnson City, TN, 37614, US, null, null, 36.3041643, -82.36684439999999, null]
- Lincoln Memorial University (Harrogate, TN)
API address [ 6965 Cumberland Gap Parkway, Harrogate, TN, 37752, United States, null, null, null, null, null]
- Maryville College (Maryville, TN)
API address [ 502 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville, TN, 37804-5907, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Middle Tennessee State University (Murfreesboro, TN)
API address [ Bragg Media and Entertainment Building, Murfreesboro, TN, 37130-0002, US, null, null, 35.8468556, -86.3627851, null]
- Rhodes College (Memphis, TN)
API address [ Clough, Memphis, TN, 38112-1624, US, null, null, 35.1539544, -89.9886701, null]
- Tennessee State University (Nashville, TN)
API address [ 3500 John A Merritt Blvd, Nashville, TN, 37209, US, null, null, 36.1683042, -86.82560330000001, null]
- Tennessee Technological University (Cookeville, TN)
API address [ Derryberry Hall, Cookeville, TN, 38505, US, null, null, 36.1746834, -85.50402849999999, null]
- University of Memphis (Memphis, TN)
API address [ 3720 Alumni Ave, Memphis, TN, 38111-5914, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- University of Tennessee - Chattanooga (Chattanooga, TN)
API address [ 615 McCallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN, 37403-2504, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Knoxville, TN)
API address [ 1331 Cir Park Dr, Knoxville, TN, 37916-3801, US, null, null, 35.9527508, -83.92589280000001, null]
- Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN)
API address [ 2305 West End Ave, Nashville, TN, 37203-1700, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Citizens
- Memphis Citizens (Memphis, TN)
API address [ null, Memphis, TN, null, null, null, null, null, null, null]
- Nashville Citizens (Nashville, TN)
API address [ null, Nashville, TN, null, null, null, null, null, null, null]
Is your school not listed? Click here for info on how to start a chapter.
