The State of Tennessee and its second-largest school district received recognition this week at the 2025 ACT State and District Summit for efforts to improve college and career readiness.¶
ACT officials awarded the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) the 2025 ACT State College and Career Champion award. This is an honor given annually to one state demonstrating a strong commitment to postsecondary preparedness. ACT additionally named Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) the 2025 K-12 Policy Exemplar – District for its strategic, data-driven initiatives aimed at increasing ACT performance and scholarship eligibility among students.¶
“Tennessee tests 100 percent of their graduating students with the ACT, providing the state-funded ACT test to juniors in the spring and full funding for ACT WorkKeys for seniors,” said Catherine Hoffman, ACT’s senior vice president of government and public affairs. “In 2016, Tennessee became the first state to offer a statewide senior retake, and the impact has been substantial.”¶
ACT reports that 78 percent of Tennessee public high school seniors in the Class of 2024 participated in the retake opportunity, resulting in an average super-score increase of 2 points. According to ACT, this score growth contributed to millions in potential college savings and enabled an additional 3,600 students to qualify for the state’s HOPE Scholarship.¶
A District Strategy with Statewide Reach¶
ACT awarded MNPS the K-12 Policy Exemplar distinction in recognition of its ACT Strategic Plan, which the organization says involves educators from pre-K through high school in preparing students to meet or exceed the ACT college-readiness benchmark of 21.¶
“This work is done through tremendous, dedicated effort, including engagement from teachers, principals, district administrators, and community partners,” said Hoffman. “It reaches all the way down to pre-kindergarten and incorporates components ranging from materials, training, and external resources.”¶
According to ACT, in 2024 alone, 25 MNPS high schools and 120 teachers supported nearly 5,000 students through targeted ACT preparation efforts. The organization says the district’s approach combines instruction, mentorship, and community collaboration to help close opportunity gaps and increase college access for students from diverse backgrounds.¶
About the Awards¶
ACT describes the State College and Career Champion Award as a recognition for individuals, schools, and organizations that show measurable progress in helping students become academically and socially prepared for life after high school. Recipients are selected by ACT State Councils—groups of education and workforce leaders—who evaluate programs based on innovation, equity, and postsecondary alignment.¶
The K-12 Policy Exemplar – District Award honors school districts with successful, scalable ACT-aligned policies that support student achievement and equitable access. ACT notes that awardees typically exemplify what’s possible when school systems invest in strategic planning, cross-sector collaboration, and educator empowerment.¶
