Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ third graders improve reading scores, TN test data shows

• MSCS third-graders showed improvement on the 2025 TCAP English Language Arts section, with 29.2% meeting or exceeding expectations.
• Prior to exemptions and other interventions, 68% of MSCS third-graders did not pass the ELA portion, compared to 58.3% statewide.
• Several pathways exist for students not initially passing, including retakes, exemptions, appeals, summer school, and tutoring.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the percent of MSCS third graders who did not pass the TCAP test. It has also been updated to include comments from MSCS.

The Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program scores have been released by the Tennessee Department of Education and the data shows Memphis-Shelby County Schools‘ third graders have improved yet again.

The TCAP is the state’s testing program that assesses student achievement in grades 3-8 and high school. Third graders take the TCAP, or TNReady tests, and their scores determine if they are able to move on to the next grade.

The data, released by the state on July 8, shows that 29.2% of third graders this year within MSCS met or exceeded expectations on the English Language Arts portion of the test.

The figures released by the state reflect the number of students who passed the test before exemptions, retakes, summer school and the appeal process.

This year, there are 3,102 third-grade students enrolled in the MSCS Summer Learning Academy, the summer school option to avoid being held back, according to numbers provided by the district in June. The number does not show how many third graders were required to be there based on their TCAP scores.

Out of the 8,404 valid tests for MSCS third graders for the ELA portion, 5,952 fell below or were approaching proficiency on the test. That means 70% of MSCS third graders did not pass the test this year, according to state data.

“Growth is not optional; it’s our mandate,” Interim Superintendent Roderick Richmond said in a statement. “At MSCS, we’re not waiting on greatness; we’re growing it. Every data point is a seed, and we’re cultivating a future our students deserve.”

Statewide, 58.3% of third graders fell short of meeting the proficiency standards of the test, an improvement from 60% who did not pass in 2023. These figures are before exceptions, retakes, summer school and the appeals process.

After the exceptions, retakes, summer school and the appeals process, less than 1% of last year’s third graders were held back under the reading law, which totaled 655 students, according to reporting from the USA TODAY Network Tennessee.

In the 2023-24 school year, 27.4% of MSCS third graders scored proficiently on the reading portion of the TCAP tests.

“We are encouraged to see improvements across all subject areas. This year’s TCAP results reflect Tennessee’s strong commitment to investing in our students’ futures and the steady progress we’re making statewide,” said Lizzette Reynolds, the Tennessee Commissioner of Education, in a press release. “We are grateful to our teachers, schools, and districts whose unwavering dedication has driven significant improvements in student performance and paved the way for lasting success.”

What happens if students don’t pass?

There are options for students who do not pass the English Language Arts portion of the TCAP.

To avoid being held back, third graders who fell short on the reading section of the TCAP must either pass on a retake, meet exemption standards, win an appeal, enroll in summer school and show adequate growth, or opt into tutoring for the entirety of fourth grade.

Not all students qualify for the tutoring option alone.

The overall numbers released in early July do not reflect exemptions, which are up to districts to sort out and apply. The figures also do not reflect the outcomes of retakes, appeals, summer school and students opted into tutoring. Those numbers are expected to come later this year.

How did the past third graders do?

This year’s third graders are the third class of students in Tennessee who have been held to the reading retention law. In 2023, a statewide law focused on third-grade reading rates took effect.

It stipulated that third graders who didn’t earn a proficient score on the English Language Arts portion of the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program tests would be held back if interventive measures weren’t taken.

Fourth graders saw the most improvement from the results this year. Testing results from the 2023-24 school year had only 26.7% of fourth graders meeting or exceeding expectations on the ELA portion of the TCAP.

This year, results from the state show 31.4% of fourth graders met or exceeded expectations on the ELA portion.

For fifth graders this year, who are the first class of third graders to be held to the reading retention law, 26.7% met or exceeded expectations. These are the same students who, in 2023 as third graders, had a 23.6% proficiency score on the reading portion of the TCAP tests.

During the first year of the reading retention law, 76% of third graders were not proficient in the ELA portion of the TCAP, before the appeals exceptions process.

MSCS TACP scores have improved

The district has shown improvement in the years since the third-grade reading law was passed. In 2024, 27% of MSCS third graders scored proficiently on the ELA portion of the TCAP tests.

From 2023 to 2024, the district had improved its third-grade reading scores by almost 4%.

According to previous reporting from The Commercial Appeal, in 2023, 23.6% of third graders scored proficiently on the ELA portion of the TCAP tests.

In 2024, former MSCS Superintendent Marie Feagins told The CA that about 2,000 third graders were required to attend the Summer Learning Academy, but 5,000 had signed up.

This article was originally posted by The Commercial Appeal.