Tennessee Recognized as National Leader in Academic Recovery in New Education Scorecard Report
Ranks Among the Nation's Top Performers: 2nd in Math, 4th in Reading Recovery
Nashville—Today, the Tennessee Department of Education highlights new findings from the annual Education Scorecard report, which identifies Tennessee as one of the top-performing states in the nation for post-pandemic academic recovery.
In its fourth year, the Education Scorecard (a collaboration between the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University, The Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University, and faculty at Dartmouth College) analyzes district-level student growth in math and reading nationwide. The report combines state assessment data for approximately 35 million students in grades 3-8 with national assessment data to measure academic recovery trends through the 2024-25 school year.
According to the report, Tennessee ranked:
- 2nd out of 38 states in academic growth in math between 2022 and 2025
- 4th out of 35 states in reading recovery during the same period
The report also found Tennessee students are nearing pre-pandemic achievement levels in math, making Tennessee one of the nation’s strongest examples of academic recovery.
“The results highlighted in the Education Recovery Scorecard reflect the hard work of Tennessee students, teachers, schools, and districts across the state,” said Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds. “Tennessee’s continued academic progress demonstrates the impact of our state’s strategic investments in literacy and math, strong instructional supports, and a steadfast commitment to student achievement.”
The report identified several Tennessee districts emerging as “Districts on the Rise,” recognizing those that demonstrate exceptional academic progress compared to similar districts within their states. Tennessee districts highlighted in both math and reading include:
- Johnson City Schools
- Putnam County Schools
- White County Schools
- Maury County Schools
Among those recognized, Johnson City Schools was specifically highlighted for its long-term investment in instructional support systems.
The report also noted that Tennessee’s gains in reading recovery and its link to the state’s comprehensive early literacy initiatives and the implementation of “science of reading” reforms aimed at strengthening foundational literacy instruction statewide.
These sustained gains have also resulted from continued investment and the implementation of high-quality instructional materials, ongoing professional learning networks, requirements for Educator Prep Programs, and student supports such as summer camps and tutoring.
To build on this momentum and drive further improvement, TDOE invites K-8 educators to attend Math Trainings across the state this summer, with a focus on math progressions, HQIM, and content knowledge. Additionally, TDOE will host several training sessions, including “Building Powerful Literacy Instruction: ELN 2.0 Summer Teacher Learning Series” and “Learning Together: ELN 2.0 Session 5.”
For additional information on Tennessee’s literacy strategy, visit the TDOE website.
For Tennessee Department of Education media inquiries, contact Edu.MediaInquiries@tn.gov.
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