~ from Knox County Schools
Students at Knox County Schools demonstrated continued academic improvement on the latest Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) exams, marking an unprecedented fifth consecutive year of districtwide gains in English Language Arts (ELA), math, and social studies.
Data released this week by the Tennessee Department of Education reflects student performance on Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 end-of-course assessments.
Districtwide proficiency rates for 2025-26 were:
- 44.7% of students met or exceeded grade-level expectations in ELA (2.1% increase compared to last year);
- 45% of students met or exceeded grade-level expectations in math (1.8% increase compared to last year);
- 58.5% of KCS students met or exceeded grade-level expectations in social studies (3.1% increase compared to last year).
- Science assessment results are not yet available statewide.
The district also saw notable gains in critical benchmarks, including:
- 4.7% increase in 3rd grade ELA proficiency
- 4.5% increase in 8th grade math proficiency
This year marks the fifth consecutive year of growth for Knox County Schools, with math and reading proficiency increasing more than 12% since 2021.
“Five years ago, we set out to improve academic outcomes for every student in every school,” said Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk. “These results are a testament to that mission, and to the hard work and dedication of our students, teachers, and administrators.”
Students receive a performance score based on four categories: “Below Expectations,” “Approaching Expectations,” “Met Expectations,” and “Exceeded Expectations.” Students scoring in the top two performance categories – “Met Expectations” and “Exceeded Expectations” – are considered proficient.
“Our schools have worked diligently to strengthen instruction and provide additional academic supports for students,” said Dr. Keith Wilson, assistant superintendent for academics. “Investments in tutoring, instructional materials, and targeted interventions are helping more students make progress, and we are proud of the growth demonstrated across the district.”
Additional information is available through the TDOE website. Families are expected to have access to individual student score reports through the TCAP portal in July.
