Tennessee Department of Education praises steady improvements in TCAP test results

Student taking a test (Photo by the Tennessee Department of Education)

Student performance is slowly but steadily improving in math, English language arts (ELA), science, and social studies, according to 2023-24 Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) results released Monday by the Tennessee Department of Education.

According to Monday's news release, the scores showed state, district, and school-level results, which include both fall 2023 end-of-course (EOC) exams and spring 2024 exams in English language arts (ELA), mathematics, science, and social studies, with the exception of math End-of-Course Assessment data, which will be released in the fall.

The department noted that the results show that district and school leaders, educators, families and elected officials “have made tremendous efforts to support students in recovering from pandemic-related learning loss and accelerating learning.”

"Tennessee's strategic education investments have resulted in steady growth for students across the state," Gov. Bill Lee said in a statement. "As we continue our work to ensure that all Tennessee students are learning on grade level, we remain committed to supporting teachers and empowering families with multiple pathways to achievement so every student can thrive in their academic journey."

Overall, the results noted that nearly 40 percent of all students are meeting grade level expectations in ELA, with proficiency gains in most tested grades and elementary and high schools continuing to out-perform pre-pandemic levels. In math, the department noted that 40 percent of students in grades 3-8 are meeting expectations, with a nearly three percentage point gain for 5th and 7th graders.

Science proficiency rates also “held steady,” with a one percent increase in overall student proficiency. In addition, the data showed a one percentage point gain for all students in social studies.

However, while there have been overall improvements, the test scores did show achievement gaps in every test subject for Black, Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students.

Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds (Photo by Tennessee Department of Education)

“Our annual TCAP assessment provides valuable data to inform strategic decision-making to best support Tennessee students,” Tennessee Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds said in a public statement. “Through the dedication of our teachers, schools, and districts, we are pleased that student performance continues to build on a strong foundation, improving outcomes for future success.”

TDOE officials said the data will be available in the TCAP Family Portal next month, allowing families to better understand their students' individual score reports and next steps for supporting their academic progress.

According to a news release emailed to Tennessee Firefly from Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS), students in the district made notable gains on the assessment. The release stated the percentage of MSCS students who “met or exceeded expectations” from 2023 to 2024 increased in eight out of 10 categories.

“We are dedicated to preparing our students for greatness,” Superintendent Marie Feagins said in a statement. “We celebrate this positive momentum and are confident that we will continue to move in this direction.”

According to the data, elementary students in grades 3-5 improved in all tested categories, showing the most notable improvements in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math. The data showed that in ELA, students who made a proficient score increased from 23.2 percent in 2023 to 26.0 percent in 2024, representing a 2.8 percentage-point increase. The results showed similar improvements in math, going from 20.9 percent in 2023 to 23.7 percent in 2024.

The results also showed that students in grades 6-8 either held steady or showed modest improvements overall in all tested categories, with their greatest gains being in math, which improved from 12.1 percent in 2023 to 14.9 percent in 2024. However, this group’s ELA scores fell slightly, from 17.2 percent in 2023 to 17.1 percent in 2024, despite some improvements in social studies and science scores.

In addition, the data noted that high school students recorded a 4-percentage-point boost in science, going from 22.2 percent proficiency in 2023 to 26 percent proficiency, despite a slight decline in social studies scores. Those grades also made improvements in ELA, showing a 1.4 percentage-point increase from 26.6 percent to 28 percent.Metro-Nashville Public Schools also released a statement praising the TCAP results. The district said every grade level showed improvements in all subjects on TCAP achievement tests, with gains ranging from 0.2 percent to more than 5 percent.

“We have been on a journey to reach our North Star of being the premier large school district in Tennessee and beyond – and these test results show we are on track to meet and exceed those expectations,” said Dr. Adrienne Battle, Director of Metro Schools. “Seeing growth in every tested category, across every grade level, all while outpacing the state, is unprecedented for MNPS, and it is a testament to the dedication and commitment our teachers and staff have shown to support the academic growth of our students.”