New Tennessee test results show student improvement in reading, but challenges remain

By Joylyn Bukovac – WSMV 4 News – Nashville, Tennessee

Published: Jan. 8, 2026 at 11:28 AM CST

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – New statewide test results are offering a clearer picture of how Tennessee students are performing post-pandemic, and there are signs of progress, especially when it comes to reading.

According to the state’s 2025 Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) results, about 41% of students across Tennessee met or exceeded expectations in English Language Arts. That marks an improvement from previous years, following learning disruptions caused by the pandemic.

Educators say those gains didn’t happen overnight.

“Governor Lee’s administration has really put an emphasis on it,” said JC Bowman with Professional Educators of Tennessee. “But it goes down to the educators and school strengths and everything getting into really, going back to phonics-based. So it’s a real key area for us to focus in on.”

Bowman said targeted interventions have played a major role in helping students catch up, especially those who fell behind during the pandemic.

“Summer school, I hate to say it, but the learning camps that we have done have really made a difference,” he said. “Because the problem is that our teachers, they can’t move forward with so many of their kids unable to read.”

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Even with those improvements, educators stress there’s still work to be done. The education professional said support at home is important, and encourages parents to make reading enjoyable.

“I used to have parents come in and go, ‘My child only wants to read comic books,’ and I looked at them and I go, ‘Buy more comic books,’” Bowman said. “Find what they’re interested in reading, and give them more of that, and let them read.”

He said the state is also continuing to focus on improving TCAP math scores.

While statewide data shows progress, local numbers in Nashville show slight improvements, but advocates say there are still ongoing challenges.

In Metro Nashville Public Schools, about 31.8% of students are currently reading on grade level, according to Nashville PROPEL, a parent group focused on equitable education. Literacy advocates say that shows improvement has been incremental.

“So there’s still a whole lot of room to grow to ensure that we don’t have generations and generations of children who are not reading on grade level,” said Sonya Thomas, executive director of Nashville PROPEL.

Thomas said when families take a closer look at the data, they’ll see some differences across school types.

“The district is 31.8 percent of kids reading on grade level, and in our charter schools, there are 33 percent of kids reading on grade level,” Thomas said. “So what we do is we have parents take an in-depth look to figure out what is the best placement for the kid who’s prioritizing literacy in their schools, and they need to make a decision based on that.”

Thomas said her organization helps families understand the data and teaches parents how to effectively advocate for the literacy support their children need.

Her advice to parents: ask questions, stay engaged and make sure reading remains a top priority at your child’s school.