by Jon Styf
Tennessee students showed math test scored improvements since hitting a pandemic low point in 2021, just as occurred in English language arts, according to new data released by the Tennessee Department of Education.
The Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program places results into four categories – exceed, met, approaching and below – compared to student comprehension expectations.
The students between grades 3 and 8 who exceeded expectations went from 7% to 12% from 2021 to 2024 while those who met expectations went from 21% to 28%.
Previously, ELA data was released and showed similar results.
The state’s students saw minor improvement in science as well, with 9% exceeding expectations and 35% meeting them while 37% were approaching the standards and 19% were below.
That up from 6% exceeding, 32% meeting, 38% approaching and 24% below standards in 2021.
Similar results showed in social studies with 10% exceeding, 35% meeting, 33% approaching and 23% below standards compared to 2021 numbers of 6% exceeding, 30% meeting, 35% approaching and 28% below.
“Tennessee’s strategic education investments have resulted in steady growth for students across the state,” Gov. Bill Lee said in a statement. “As we continue our work to ensure that all Tennessee students are learning on grade level, we remain committed to supporting teachers and empowering families with multiple pathways to achievement so every student can thrive in their academic journey.”
The department pointed out that Tennessee students saw a nearly three percentage point gain for 5th and 7th graders in the math test portion for those meeting or exceeding expectations.
Individual student results will be available in July, the state said.
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Jon Styf is an award-winning editor and reporter for The Center Square who has worked in Illinois, Texas, Wisconsin, Florida and Michigan in local newsrooms over the past 20 years, working for Shaw Media, Hearst and several other companies.
Photo “Students Testing” by Andy Barbour.
It is sad when the good news is that a large percentage of the students remain below the lenient guidelines.