The Tennessee Department of Education has shined a spotlight on educational excellence this year, distinguishing schools and districts that have made significant strides in student achievement and growth. The TDOE announced the recipients of the Reward Schools and Exemplary Districts designations for the 2023-24 school year, along with those needing improvement, according to an announcement made on their website.
In a recent report, a total of 377 schools across 97 districts earned the Reward School status, while 10 districts were celebrated as Exemplary Districts, and another 10 were flagged as being In Need of Improvement. This year's designations, taking into account a variety of performance indicators such as achievement and growth, were approved by the State Board of Education on November 22, as per the Tennessee Department of Education. These recognitions are detailed on the department’s accountability page.
The commendations were a moment of pride for education officials. "I am thrilled to highlight the 2023-24 Reward Schools and Exemplary Districts for their dedication to fostering student learning and growth in their classrooms across the state," Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education, said in the announcement. School leaders and teachers received praise for their unwavering commitment to educational excellence.
Each Reward School demonstrated high performance or significant improvements, while Exemplary Districts had to score an overall performance score of 3.1 or higher, on a 4.0-point scale. Among recognized Exemplary Districts this year include Alcoa City Schools, Arlington Community Schools, and Van Buren County Schools. The complete list of these esteemed districts can be found on the department's accountability page.
For additional information and media inquiries related to the school and district designations by TDOE, interested parties can reach out through the department's official communication channel at [email protected].
