Tennessee's education system showed notable improvement in the 2024-25 school year, with more schools and districts receiving performance accolades. The number of Reward schools increased by 22 percent, from 377 to 459, while Exemplary districts grew by 40 percent, from 10 to 14, according to the Tennessee Department of Education.
At the same time, districts classified as In Need of Improvement decreased by 11 percent, dropping from nine to eight. The Tennessee Department of Education has made the full list of these designations available on its accountability webpage.
"Because of the dedication of Tennessee district, charter, and school leaders, along with our outstanding educators, we are proud to see their hard work demonstrated in these results," said Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education. Annual assessments measure student achievement and growth, attendance, graduation rates, and post-secondary preparedness. Reward schools meet or exceed performance goals, and Exemplary districts score 3.1 or higher on a 4.0 scale. This year’s recognized districts include Alamo City School, Arlington Community Schools, and Union City Schools. All Reward schools, Exemplary districts, and districts In Need of Improvement were approved by the State Board of Education on Friday, as stated by the Tennessee Department of Education.
