The Tennessee Department of Education says there’s more evidence its investments in education are paying dividends for Tennessee students.
The department says 89.8% of Tennessee high school students graduated on time in the 2021-2022 school year. That number exceeds the 89.7% graduation rate before the pandemic in the 2018-2019 school year.
The rate is also above the 88.7% graduation rate from last school year. The department says 78 districts improved their graduation rates from this year and 95% of eligible students in 53 districts graduated on time this year.
“Seeing our graduation rates return to pre-pandemic levels shows that strong partnerships and the right investments will result in improved outcomes for our students,” said TDOE Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “Thanks to the dedication of our districts and schools, educators, and families, Tennessee students are able to move into life beyond high school and pursue postsecondary pathways that will help them achieve their dreams and goals.”
Notable takeaways from graduation data for the 2021-22 school year include:
- 12 districts improved their graduation rate by 5 percentage points or more.
- 53 districts graduated 95% or more of their cohorts.
- 78 districts improved their graduation rates from 2021 to 2022.
- 54 districts improved the Students with Disabilities student group by 5 percentage points or more.
- 1,297 more students graduated in the 2022 cohort compared to last year, for a total of 64,580 graduating students across the state.
“Marshall County is excited about the combined efforts of our students, families, faculty, and staff that all contributed to our highest graduation rate on record,” said Jacob Sorrells, Director of Schools, Marshall County Schools. “We recognize and appreciate the work it takes to find success such as this. We are particularly proud of our school counselors and graduation coaches for the extra time and attention given to our students and their individual needs. We look forward to continuing to provide the students of Marshall County a quality education and a path to postsecondary and career opportunities.”
The department says several ongoing initiatives are helping accelerate academic achievement and preparing students for postsecondary success, including summer programming, free ACT workshops, TN ALL Corps, Innovative School Models, and AP Access for All.
