Eighteen Schools Receive Reward School Designation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / November 22, 2024

Contact:
Carly Harrington, 594-1902, carly.harrington@knoxschools.org
Josh Flory, 594-8021, josh.flory@knoxschools.org

The State of Tennessee has released district and school designations based on data from the 2023-24 school year, and results show that Knox County Schools is continuing to make gains in student achievement.

Eighteen schools from KCS were honored with the “Reward” designation, which is the state’s highest designation and recognizes schools that are making gains in student achievement and growth for all students and all student groups.

Two years ago, only nine schools received the Reward school designation. Last year, that number jumped to 24 schools. Because Reward school designation measures growth over previous years’ accomplishments, it is often difficult to maintain a high number of Reward schools. Nevertheless, KCS is celebrating another 18 Reward schools.

“Results like these don’t happen by chance overnight,” said Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk. “Our principals, teachers, and students have been intentional and worked hard to make the gains we’re seeing now. They’ve remained focused on our four priorities, and that focus is paying off.”

Each year, districts are also eligible for designations based on their overall performance in various areas, including academic proficiency, growth in student learning, chronic absenteeism, the college-readiness of its graduates, and support for English Language Learners.

For the second year in a row, KCS’s overall designation as a district was “Satisfactory,” up from “In Need of Improvement” in 2021-22.

“At KCS, we are committed to continuous improvement, which means being aware of where we are excelling and where we can still improve. We are seeing tremendous growth in our elementary schools and we’re seeing increased graduation rates in our high schools, but we still have work to do when it comes to closing persistent achievement gaps–especially in our middle schools,” said Rysewyk. “Three years ago, we set out to reimagine the high school experience in Knox County. That work ultimately resulted in the 865 Academies and a clear mission for every high school in the district. Beginning this Spring, we’ll be taking a similar look at our middle schools to ensure we have an equally clear vision for success in these critical middle grades.”

This year, 15 schools received designations that reflect a need for additional support – the same number of schools that received these designations last year, but down from 2022, when 29 schools were identified. Of the 15 schools:

6 schools were named Priority Schools, indicating a need for Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI designations are issued on a two-year basis. These six schools received a CSI designation last year, and this represents their second year of the two-year designation.);
2 schools were named Focus Schools, with a need for Additional Targeted Support and Improvement; and
7 schools were named Focus Schools, with a need for Targeted Support and Improvement.

The designations announced by the state reinforce the momentum seen in other assessments. For example, TCAP scores released in 2023 for KCS showed a gain of nearly 3% in 4th-grade reading proficiency – reaching the highest level in the district’s history – and math proficiency for Grades 6 and 8 rose by 4%.

“We have outstanding school leaders and educators who are making a significant impact on the future of our students,” said Dr. Keith Wilson, Assistant Superintendent of Academics. “We recognize that our work isn’t finished, but we are moving in the right direction, focusing on strengthening instructional practices and preparing students with the foundational skills for success.”

A complete list of Reward Schools is available below.

A.L. Lotts Elementary
Bearden Elementary
Blue Grass Elementary
Bonny Kate Elementary
Career Magnet Academy
Farragut Intermediate
Gap Creek Elementary
Gibbs Elementary
Hardin Valley Elementary
Karns Elementary
L&N STEM Academy
Mt. Olive Elementary
Northshore Elementary
Pleasant Ridge Elementary
Sequoyah Elementary
Shannondale Elementary
South Knox Elementary
West Valley Middle

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