Tennessee has set a state file for highschool graduations for a second straight yr.
About 92.1% of public college college students within the Class of 2024 graduated on time this spring, surpassing the earlier yr’s file by 1.5 share factors, in line with knowledge launched Wednesday.
The newest milestone comes two years after Tennessee’s commencement fee returned to pre-pandemic ranges after a three-year slide amid COVID-related disruptions to education and mirroring nationwide tendencies.
Earlier than that, Tennessee had logged a decade of incremental will increase within the commencement fee totaling greater than 4 share factors underneath a workforce and financial growth initiative prioritized by former Gov. Invoice Haslam.
“The achievement displays the dedication of our district leaders, educators, and households working collectively,” mentioned Lizzette Reynolds, training commissioner underneath Gov. Invoice Lee.
In all, 78 out of the state’s 147 districts improved their commencement charges, together with all 4 massive city college programs.
Memphis-Shelby County Colleges, the state’s largest district, elevated its fee to 83.4%, up 1.9 share factors. Amongst Hispanic college students there, the speed surged 7.5 share factors to 80.2%.
Nashville’s fee jumped by 4.5 share factors to 85.7%, whereas Hamilton County’s went up 3.7 factors to 93.2%. The speed for Knox County Colleges was 93%, up by 1.1 factors.
English learners noticed a 12-point enhance of their commencement charges statewide, from 67% to 79%.
On Thursday, state Democratic leaders identified that the record-high charges got here after a $4.5 billion federal emergency funding in Tennessee’s Okay-12 colleges amid the pandemic, plus focused state will increase for scholar funding.
“Collectively, these sources helped our colleges ship on their promise to teach each little one, no matter background or zip code,” mentioned Sen. London Lamar of Memphis, who chairs her chamber’s Democratic caucus.
“Nonetheless, with the tip of this emergency federal assist, Tennessee will once more rank among the many backside ten states in per-pupil funding,” Lamar warned. “Consequently, we threat shedding the momentum we’ve labored so onerous to construct.”
Incomes a highschool diploma has lengthy been an essential marker of scholar achievement. Highschool graduates not solely usually earn extra money throughout their lifetime than those that drop out, but additionally have a tendency to guide longer and more healthy lives, in line with the American Public Well being Affiliation.
Under, you possibly can look as much as see how your district did.
Marta Aldrich is a senior correspondent and covers the statehouse for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Contact her at maldrich@chalkbeat.org.
Editor’s be aware: This story has been up to date to incorporate a press release from Sen. London Lamar of Memphis.
