Tennessee Students Improve TCAP Scores in 2024

Tennessee students have shown improvement in their performance on this year’s state standardized tests in reading and math, continuing their progress from post-pandemic lows. According to data released by the state’s education department, about 39% of students met or exceeded expectations in reading on the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Test (TCAP), up from 38% in 2023.

Since the resumption of TCAP in 2021 after the pandemic-related school closures in 2020, there has been a steady improvement in student performance. Only 29.6% of the state’s public school students tested proficient in reading in 2021.

In Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS), the state’s largest school district, there has also been an improvement in reading performance. This year, 22.4% of students met or exceeded expectations on TCAP reading, compared to 20.7% in 2023 and just 13% in 2021. Additionally, there was an increase in the percentage of third, fourth, and fifth graders who scored proficient in reading, rising to 26% from 23.2% in 2023.

The district utilized $100 million in federal pandemic relief funds to hire specialized education assistants to enhance literacy instruction for students in kindergarten through second grade. However, the funding is running out this year.

In terms of math proficiency, 23.7% of third, fourth, and fifth graders in MSCS met or exceeded the math standard on TCAP this year, compared to 20.9% in 2023. Statewide, preliminary data indicates that around 40% of students in grades 3 to 8 met or exceeded TCAP expectations in math, a 2-percentage-point increase from 2023.

Despite these gains, MSCS still lags significantly behind the statewide math and reading averages. Black and Hispanic students, as well as those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, continue to trail behind their white and wealthier peers in proficiency.

It is clear that while there has been progress in student performance in Tennessee and MSCS, there is still work to be done to close the achievement gap and ensure all students have the support they need to succeed. As the state continues to analyze the data from this year’s tests, it will be crucial to implement strategies that help all students reach their full potential.