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Third Graders Face High Retention Risk After ELA TCAP Assessment

60% of Third Graders in the State Did Not Reach Proficiency in 2023

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The Tennessee Department of Education released scores from the spring English/language arts (ELA) TCAP assessment Wednesday, May 25, revealing that more than half of Tennessee’s third-grade students are not meeting proficiency in the subject. While some area schools have higher proficiency percentages than the statewide average, McKenzie, Hollow-Rock/Bruceton, Milan and West Carroll special school districts have found their percentages below the state average.

A new, comprehensive K-3 literacy strategy for Tennessee public schools determined that third-grade students scoring below or approaching proficiency will need to repeat the school year unless they take extra measures to support fourth grade promotion.

Students approaching proficiency can promote to fourth grade by taking one of the following pathways: retesting and scoring proficient on the ELA TCAP assessment, maintaining a 90% attendance at their school’s upcoming summer camp and demonstrating improvement, receiving free TN ALL Corps tutoring during fourth grade, or having their parents appeal the retention decision within 14 days of receiving the decision from their school. This last option requires parents to document their child’s growth on an approved benchmark or the TN Universal Reading Screener or document an event that impacted their child’s ability to perform.

Students scoring below proficiency can also promote to fourth grade by retesting and scoring proficient on the ELA TCAP assessment. One other option is for the student to maintain a 90% attendance at summer camp and receive free TN ALL Corps tutoring during fourth grade.

Tennessee’s statewide average percent of proficiency is 40%, with 25% of students scoring below proficiency and 35% of students approaching proficiency.

Third grade students at McKenzie Special School District had the highest percent of students scoring below proficiency in its surrounding areas. Over half of McKenzie’s third graders did not meet proficiency, with 27.37% scoring below and 38.95% approaching proficiency. 33.68% of students met or exceeded the proficiency score. The school’s percentages are lower than the statewide average.

Hollow-Rock/Bruceton Special School District had 32.43% of students scoring proficient or better on the assessment. 10.81% of students scored below proficiency, and 56.76% of students approached proficiency.

Milan Special School District had 36% of students scoring proficient or better on the assessment. 18% of students scored below proficiency, and 46% of students approached proficiency.

West Carroll Special School District had 36.77% of students scoring proficient or better on the assessment. 13.24% of students scored below proficiency, and 50% of students approached proficiency.

Paris Special School District had 42.27% of students scoring proficient or better on the assessment. 21.43% of students scored below proficiency, and 36.31% of students approached proficiency.

Henry County Schools had 42.57% of students scoring proficient or better on the assessment. 25% of students scored below proficiency, and 32.43% of students approached proficiency.

Huntingdon Special School District had 44.88% of students scoring proficient or better on the assessment. 16.67% of students scored below proficiency, and 25.89% of students approached proficiency.

Weakley County Schools had 51.81% of students scoring proficient or better on the assessment. 16.3% of students scored below proficiency, and 31.88% of students approached proficiency.

Third grade students at South Carroll Special School District had the highest percent of students in surrounding areas scoring proficient, at 70%. 30% of students did not meet proficiency, with 15% scoring below and 15% approaching the proficiency score.

Individual student scores were released to each school district Friday, May 19. Each school is responsible for communicating with families about their student’s score and pathways to fourth grade promotion.

Some students are exempt from third grade retention. Exempted students include English learners with less than two years of ELA instruction, students previously retained in grades K-3, and students with a disability or suspected disability impacting reading.