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TCAP Scores Show Growth In Student Achievement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / June 24, 2024

Knox County Schools has continued to see achievement gains in English Language Arts (ELA), math, science, and social studies achievement, according to the latest TCAP scores released this week.

The new round of preliminary scores reflects Spring 2024 and Fall 2023 end-of-course exams. Data released by the State of Tennessee showed that district-wide scores increased in all four categories compared to the prior year.

“We are not surprised to see across-the-board gains in every subject area,” said Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk. “Two years ago, we established four priorities for KCS: Excellence in Foundational Skills, Great Educators in Every School, Career Empowerment and Preparation, and Success For Every Student. We chose these priorities intentionally to define the work of an exemplary school district. The scores we’re seeing today are the direct result of the hard work of our teachers, students, and school leaders and their commitment to remaining focused on our four priorities.”

Students receive a performance score based on four categories: “Below Expectations,” “Approaching Expectations,” “Met Expectations,” and “Exceeded Expectations.” Students scoring in the top two performance categories – “Met Expectations” and “Exceeded Expectations” – are considered to be proficient for that content area.

Some key takeaways from the preliminary results include:

English Language Arts (ELA)

  • Districtwide, 41.4% of students scored proficient on ELA assessments across all tested grades.
    • 0.7 percentage point increase from last year’s proficiency rate of 40.7%
    • 2.2 percentage point increase from 2021-22's proficiency rate of 39.2%
  • In grades 3-8, 40.3% of students scored proficient on ELA assessments.
  • In grades 9-10, 44.4% of students scored proficient on ELA assessments.

 

Math (Grades 3-8)

  • In Grades 3-8, 39.5% of students scored proficient on math assessments. (*District-wide math results will be available in the Fall of 2024)
    • 1.8 percentage point increase from last year’s Grade 3-8 proficiency rate of 37.7%
    • 6.1 percentage point increase from 2021-22's Grade 3-8 proficiency rate of 33.4%

 

Science

  • District-wide, 47.7% of students scored proficient on science assessments across all tested grades.
    • 1.8 percentage point increase from last year’s proficiency rate of 45.9%
    • 3.7 percentage point increase from 2021-22's proficiency rate of 44%
  • In Grades 3-8, 46.1% of students scored proficient on science assessments
  • In high school, 57.7% of students scored proficient on science assessments

 

Social Studies

  • District-wide, 49.3% of students scored proficient on social studies assessments across all tested grades.
    • 0.5 percentage point increase from last year’s proficiency rate of 48.8%
    • 1.0 percentage point increase from 2021-22's proficiency rate of 48.3%
  • In Grades 6-8, 51.1% scored proficient on social studies assessments.
  • In Grade 11, 34.2% scored proficient on social studies assessments. (*Many KCS 11th-graders take U.S. History as a dual enrollment course, which is not included in these results.)

 

When considering district-wide numbers:

  • 41.4% of students met or exceeded grade-level expectations in ELA;
  • 47.7% of students met or exceeded grade-level expectations in science; and
  • 49.3% of KCS students met or exceeded grade-level expectations in social studies.

 

  • In addition, 39.5% of Grade 3-8 students met or exceeded grade-level expectations in math.


“Our district has taken a number of steps to support academic achievement over the last two years, including investments in tutoring and high-quality instructional materials,” said Dr. Keith Wilson, assistant superintendent for academics. “I’m proud of the gains made by our students, and I believe they are powerful evidence that our educators and school leaders are doing the right work every day.”