The Tennessee Department of Education recently unveiled the latest State Report Card and School Letter Grades for the 2023-24 school year, offering a comprehensive view of how schools are faring across the state. The report card is designed to equip parents, educators, and policymakers with key data to better understand and improve student and school performance. An overview and resources related to the report card can be found on the TDOE website.
In her statement on the TDOE release, Commissioner of Education Lizzette Reynolds emphasized the tool’s importance, saying, "The 2023-24 State Report Card provides valuable insights into the performance of public schools and districts across Tennessee, giving families and communities the tools they need to advocate for their students." She highlighted the achievements of top-performing schools that received high letter grades, encouraging the whole of Tennessean community to play an active role in the educational process. Their pride on schools making progress is palpable as they deliver the latest numbers to the public's scrutiny.
The School Letter Grades, which are a key element of the State Report Card, show performance in areas such as student achievement, academic growth, and for high schools, measures of college and career readiness. In the latest report, 290 schools achieved an overall A grade, with 485 attaining a B. The grades represent a composite of several categories, with impressive numbers of schools hitting the top score in various areas: 445 in Achievement, 536 in Growth, and 385 in Growth for Highest Need Students. Across the state, 82 elementary and middle schools earned the highest level across all three relevant categories, while 159 high schools scored at the top in College and Career Readiness, and 26 high schools achieved level 5 scores in every category.
With annual updates, the State Report Card serves as a vital instrument for tracking a multitude of metrics such as state assessment achievements and progress, enrollment, English learners' proficiency, and postsecondary readiness. Although last year's report included School Letter Grades along with funding allocation information, this year's detailed financial expenditure data will become available early in 2025. The interactive nature of the report card allows for an enhanced understanding of individual school performance through tools like the TISA calculator, which helps display how the state's funding formula caters to individual student needs is helpful. A comparison tool is also provided, enabling stakeholders to contrast schools and districts on different parameters such as demographics and academic results.
For direct engagement with the State Report Card and School Letter Grades, parents and interested parties can access the information through the TDOE website. Additional resources, as well as the TCAP Family Portal and Best for ALL Central, are available for deeper insights into the educational landscape of Tennessee.
