TCAP scores released, TDOE finds that students made ‘significant gains’

JACKSON, Tenn. — Statewide, more students are meeting, or are within reach of meeting, expectations when it comes to reading.

Tennessee Department of Education released testing results for the English and Language Arts portion of the spring 2024 Tennessee Comprehensive Academic Program, or better known as the TCAP assessment.

According to the TDOE, on average in the state, third grade student scores remained steady with a slight increase, as 4th grade student scores showed significant improvement.

The Tennessee Department of Education said in a statement that the department is pleased to see that fourth graders have made significant gains this year as they work toward higher proficiency rates.

“The department is pleased to see that the fourth grade cohort, which saw significant gains last year on the ELA portion of their third grade TCAP, has, again, made significant gains on the ELA portion of their fourth grade TCAP as they work toward higher proficiency rates,” said the TDOE.

They also said the scores reflect the hard work teachers are doing in the classroom to improve literacy. And that the scores show the highest performance among 3rd and 4th grade students since 2017.

“Demonstrate the hard work Tennessee teachers are doing in the classroom to improve early literacy. These numbers mark the highest performance among third-grade and fourth-grade students we have achieved since the new test was launched in 2017,” said the TDOE.

Overall, 4th grade students achieved a 2.9% increase in their proficiency rate to 46.4%.

Additionally, the fewest number of 4th grade students scored in the “below expectations” level than ever before.

During the summer, kindergarten through 9th grade can also participate in summer learning camps offered over the course of four weeks, to provide students with extra time to learn literacy and math in small groups.

For more information, reach out to your local district. According to the Tennessee Department of Education, individual districts have only had their final data for a short time.

The department plans to release TCAP data for all test grades and subjects on June 24.

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