State Releases 2015 District-Level TCAP Results

NASHVILLE— The Tennessee Department of Education today released district-level results from the 2015 Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP), which show strong gains in high school and significant gains in grades 3-8 math.

A majority of students in nearly 100 districts were proficient in math, compared to 2011, when the majority of students were proficient in math in only 24 districts. Districts showed significant gains specifically in grades 3-8 math with 121 districts out of 144 improving. In addition, for the first time since the test was given in 2011, the majority of students were proficient or advanced in Algebra II in more than 65 percent of districts.

“The support districts have offered to teachers and students has evolved as we have raised expectations for learning across the state,” Education Commissioner Candice McQueen said. “The sustained growth in high school and math and science shows us that the strategies and practices districts are using work. Now we have an opportunity to understand what has helped move student learning and replicate this in all grades and subjects, ensuring that Tennessee students have every opportunity to succeed.”

The majority of Tennessee districts continued to make gains in science across grade levels. Notably, nearly 100 districts made gains in Chemistry. As seen in state results, growth in grades 3-8 English language arts declined across districts, while the majority of districts made gains in the high school courses of English I and English III.

Historically underserved students also narrowed gaps with their peers in districts across the state. Black, Hispanic, and Native American students narrowed gaps in both math and English language arts in the majority of districts. Economically disadvantaged students also narrowed gaps with their peers in high school, making gains in English II in 65 percent of districts and making gains in Algebra II in 77 percent of districts.

District results also highlighted growth in historically low performing schools. Students in the Achievement School District (ASD), a state-operated school district created by the Tennessee General Assembly to improve Tennessee’s bottom 5 percent of schools, showed faster learning gains than their peers across the state in math and science. Additional analysis of the ASD data shows that the district’s first and second year cohorts of schools – those in their second and third year of operation – earned the state’s highest possible student achievement growth rating.

Tennessee students have made notable gains over the past four years. Since 2011, 131,000 more students are on grade level in math, and nearly 60,000 more students are on grade level in science.

See additional district-level TCAP results as well as school-level TCAP results here.