Tennessee’s rise in national academic performance did not happen overnight. Over more than two decades, the state steadily gained ground in reading and math, moving from near the bottom of the national rankings into the top 20.
To better understand the scale of that progress, SCORE partnered with Basis Policy Research to examine results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The analysis considers multiple grades and subjects, providing a fuller picture than any single assessment result.
The findings show how Tennessee compares with states across the country and within the South. They also look beyond statewide averages to explore the performance of Black, Hispanic, and economically disadvantaged students.
The results offer Tennessee much to celebrate, but they also point to the work still ahead. Meaningful progress will depend on building on what has worked while closing the persistent gaps between student groups across the state.