Tennessee’s third grade students just posted the best English language arts (ELA) results on state testing since 2017, and students overall saw important improvements in the subject.¶
That’s according to a news release from the Tennessee Department of Education highlighting the results of the 2025-26 Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) state–level results.¶
K-8 grade students take the TCAP each spring in ELA, math, science, and social studies, while high school students take end-of-course assessments. This year’s results included key improvements in at least three of these subjects, with science results to be released later.¶
“I am very proud of our gains in student achievement, highlighting our success in implementing strategies that elevate learning across all grades and subjects. This continued progress ensures every Tennessee student has the opportunity to succeed,” said Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education. “We sincerely thank our educators and districts for their unwavering dedication to helping students succeed every day, ensuring that high-quality instruction and data-driven support continue to accelerate learning for all.”¶
Highlights of the 2025-26 TCAP include:
English Language Arts (ELA)¶
- 3.2 percentage point increase from last year’s proficiency rate for third grade.
- 2.7 percentage point increase from last year’s proficiency rate for eighth grade.
- 3.8 percentage point increase from last year’s proficiency rate in English II.
Math¶
- 3.6 percentage point increase from last year’s proficiency for fourth grade.
- 5.6 percentage point increase from last year’s Geometry proficiency for high school.
Social Studies¶
- 11.4 percentage point increase statewide since 2019
- 3.4 percentage point increase from last year’s proficiency for sixth grade
- 3.0 percentage point increase from last year’s proficiency for seventh grade
- 3.8 percentage point increase from last year’s proficiency for U.S. History
Investments Credited with Improvements
Following the release, multiple organizations and Governor Bill Lee himself credited investments in education and literacy over the last eight years for the testing improvements.¶
“Tennessee’s strategic investments in education have led to promising progress for students in multiple subjects and grade levels," said Governor Lee. "As we advance our efforts to ready students for success both in school and in life, Tennessee remains dedicated to supporting teachers and empowering families through diverse pathways to achievement, ensuring every student has an opportunity to succeed."¶
The General Assembly and Governor Lee enacted the Tennessee Literacy Success Act and the Tennessee Learning Loss Remediation and Student Acceleration Act during a special session in 2021 to target pandemic learning losses.¶
Lawmakers have continued to invest more than a billion new dollars in education, including investments in summer programming¶
"Today's announcement that Tennessee students are improving their proficiency in English Language Arts, including third graders who achieved their highest proficiency since 2017, is both a cause for celebration and reflection on the critical importance of leadership," said Lana Skelo, President and CEO of education organization Tennesseans for Student Success. "During the last eight years, Governor Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly have stepped up to provide support for summer learning camps, along with targeted investments to address pandemic learning loss, and more than a billion dollars in new education funding. Tennessee students are succeeding today because leaders chose to champion meaningful investments in the classroom year after year."¶
The Tennessee Firefly is a project of and funded by Tennesseans for Student Success.¶
How Big are the Improvements
The education organization SCORE analyzed the TCAP data and found that the overall proficiency rate growth in ELA amounts to roughly 7,600 additional students who are proficient compared to last year.¶
In math, SCORE noted that the growth in math proficiency in third through eighth grade students represents a nearly 9 percent increase since 2022.¶
Likewise, in social studies, SCORE found that elementary and middle school students grew their proficiency by nearly 8 percent since 2022.¶
What’s About My Child
The state will make individual student data available in the TCAP Family Portal next month. Families can use the portal to obtain additional information to better understand their students' individual score reports and the next steps for supporting their students' academic progress, according to a news release.¶
These results follow last year’s National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) release. In both fourth and eighth grade reading and math, Tennessee improved its proficiency rates and is now ranked among the top 25 states, placing 24th nationally based on scale scores.¶
