Analysis: 3rd-grade reading scores by school districts in Tennessee

Published by the Tennessee Lookout, Reporter Adam Friedman – May 31, 2023

Third-grade reading scores by school district show a slight improvement for most Tennessee schools in 2023 compared to the average of recent years.

Last week Tennessee released its statewide testing scores, showing 60% of third graders weren’t proficient at reading. This is common — never have more than half of all Tennessee third graders been deemed proficient in any given year since at least 2011.

Education officials use the third-grade reading tests as a benchmark for learning. Republican lawmakers cite studies showing students who can’t read by third grade are more likely to fall behind and not graduate.