Average Tennessee high school graduation rate up for 2024-25

NASHVILLE — The average pubic high school graduation rate in Tennessee statewide grew to 92.3% for the 2024-25 school year.That breaks a previous record of 92.1% in 2023-24, according to recently released information from the state Department of Education.In this region of the Volunteer State, Greene County Schools had the highest rate by exceeding 99%, and many Northeast Tennessee and East Tennessee districts exceeded the state average, including Johnson City Schools with 98.2% and Hawkins County Schools with 98.1%Elsewhere in the greater Tri-Cities, Sullivan County had 92.9%, Bristol 97%, Kingsport 96.7%, Unicoi County 96.3%, Carter County 94.6%, Elizabethton 96%, Greeneville 97.9% and Johnson County 77.8%.STATE VS. FEDERAL CALCULATIONSSeparate federally calculated graduation rates were also included in the online listings of the rates statewide. They vary slightly from the state numbers because of the way they are calculated, according to officials of Kingsport City Schools and Sullivan County Schools."We are incredibly excited about the 2025 graduation rates, knowing they reflect the daily hard work done by our students, staff and administration," Kingsport Assistant Superintendent of Administration Andy True said in a prepared statement Friday.The federally calculated rate for Kingsport was 94.4, slightly lower than the state rate; for Sullivan County it was 93.4%, slightly higher than the state calculation.Justin Calhoun, Sullivan County Schools data and accountability specialist, and Director of Schools Chuck Carter said they were pleased with that system's 2024-25 graduate rates.One reason was the county rates met the system's annual measurable outcome goals."AMO targets expect the percent of student not meeting the standard to decrease in eight years; double AMO targets expect that decrease in four years," Calhoun wrote via a Thursday email. "We (Sullivan County Schools) met both targets with last year's graduation rate. The state and federal graduation rates won't be the same because they have different business rules and rely on different metrics."The federal calculations also address various other subgroups for districts statewide."The state and federal graduation rates are the highest in both areas since the release of graduation files back to 2011, and KCS had its highest state graduation rates ever in multiple subgroups," True said. "These are the results of collective commitment that all students have a successful high school experience that ensures they are college and career ready."In other East Tennessee school district data, state-calculated graduation rates included 97% in Grainger County, 89.4 in Hamblen County and 94% in Hancock County.PREPARING TO GRADUATE"Year-over-year gains in the statewide graduation rate exemplify Tennessee's commitment to ensuring students across the state make it to the graduation stage prepared for success after high school," Commissioner of Education Lizzette Reynolds said in the Oct. 27 news release. "Districts' schools and public charters will continue using proven best practices and working with families to support students as they embark on their future endeavors."For the 2024-25 school year, statewide takeaways from graduation data include the following:• 1,892 more students graduated in the 2025 cohort compared to last year, for a total of 69,124 students graduating across the state.• Benton County Schools, Clay County Schools, Fentress County Schools, Greene County Schools, Milan Special School District, Richard City Special School District, Smith County Schools and the Tennessee School for the Deaf are the top nine districts that had a graduation rate of more than 99%.• Eighty-two districts graduated 95% or more of their students on time.• Sixty-nine districts improved their graduation rates from 2024 to 2025, with eight districts improving by five percentage points or more.• The Students with Disabilities student group demonstrated a three-percentage point increase in its graduation rate from 81% in 2023-24 to 84% in 2024-25.• Sixty-eight schools finished the year with more than a 99% graduation rate.• Twenty-nine districts finished the year with over a 99% graduation rate for at least one of the following student groups: English Learners, Black, Hispanic, Native American, Economically Disadvantaged and Students with Disabilities.To advance academic achievement and prepare students for postsecondary success, the release said districts continue to offer summer programming and tutoring supports for additional learning time; innovative college and career exploration; and access to early postsecondary opportunities.MORE INFORMATION ONLINEFor more information on graduation rates for individual districts and schools, please visit the department's Data Downloads webpage at https://www.tn.gov/education/districts/federal-programs-and-oversight/data/data-downloads.html.There, look under the Graduation Cohort Data for the detailed information by district for all students as well as selected subgroups, including minorities, foster children, homeless and others. Federal numbers and percentages are included there, too.