Tennessee Achieves Record High School Graduation Rates for 2024

Cheering graduation students throwing caps in celebration.

Tennessee Achieves Record High School Graduation Rates for 2024

In Nashville, Tennessee, the state has reached a significant milestone in education as it sets a record for high school graduations for the second consecutive year. According to newly released data, approximately 92.1% of public school students in the class of 2024 successfully graduated on time last spring, surpassing the previous year’s record by 1.5 percentage points.

The Context of Achievement

This achievement follows a recovery period over the past two years, where Tennessee’s graduation rate rebounded back to prepandemic levels. This recovery comes after a decline experienced during the pandemic, which disrupted schooling and reflected national trends in education. Before the pandemic, Tennessee had steadily improved its graduation rates, gaining more than 4 percentage points over a decade, largely due to initiatives aimed at workforce and economic development.

Who Contributed to This Success?

Education officials acknowledge that this significant achievement is a result of collaborative efforts. Lizzette Reynolds, the state’s education commissioner, highlighted the importance of teamwork among district leaders, educators, and families in reaching this goal. “The achievement reflects the dedication of our district leaders, educators and families working together,” Reynolds stated.

Improvements Across the State

A total of 78 out of 147 school districts in Tennessee saw improvements in their graduation rates, with notable increases in all four major urban school systems. For instance:

Memphis-Shelby County Schools, the state’s largest district, raised its graduation rate to 83.4%, an increase of 1.9 percentage points.
Nashville witnessed a leap of 4.5 percentage points to reach 85.7%.
Hamilton County reported an impressive rate of 93.2%, up by 3.7 points.
Knox County Schools achieved a graduation rate of 93%, a rise of 1.1 points.

Moreover, graduation rates for English learners across the state surged by 12 points, increasing from 67% to 79%.

Concerns Over Future Funding

State Democratic leaders pointed out that these record-high graduation rates were bolstered by a significant $4.5 billion federal emergency investment in K-12 education during the pandemic, in addition to targeted funding increases at the state level. Sen. London Lamar of Memphis emphasized the crucial role of these resources. “Together, these resources helped our schools deliver on their promise to educate every child, regardless of background or zip code,” said Lamar.

However, the end of this federal financial support raises concerns. Lamar mentioned that without continued investment, Tennessee risks slipping back among the bottom 10 states in terms of per-pupil funding. “As a result, we risk losing the momentum we’ve worked so hard to build,” she warned.

The Broader Significance of Graduation

Graduating from high school is a vital step in achieving personal and economic success. Research shows that high school graduates typically earn more over their lifetimes and enjoy healthier lives compared to those who do not complete their education. This highlights the importance of sustaining and improving educational outcomes in Tennessee.

As Tennessee celebrates this record achievement, the focus now shifts towards ensuring that the funding and support remain in place to continue this upward trend in education.