Scores Galore: TCAP, NAEP, and PISA

Between 2022 and 2025, Tennessee was one of the fastest-improving states in terms of reading and math proficiency in the country, which was certainly driven by the successes of school districts like those mentioned above. For the first time ever, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) showed Tennessee in the top half of states in proficiency in 2024.

Although parts of the country are finally reaching or even exceeding pre-COVID-19 proficiency levels, the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), administered globally to 15-year-olds, shows us that our national scores are lagging behind. Reading and Math scores have both fallen in recent years.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll look at model school districts in Shelby County to discover how other districts can learn from their success.