What share of students in Tennessee are proficient in math?

In 2024, 31% of eighth graders in Tennessee public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (18th highest among the 50 states and DC) and 31% in reading, compared with 31% and 32% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Tennessee, United States: official figures

90.4% of public high school students in Tennessee graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); 2nd highest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

90.4%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

215

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

276

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$12,882

FY2024

Public school enrollment

1,004,625

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

32.4%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Tennessee rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Tennessee was 90.4% in 2021-22, compared with 87% in 2011-12 and 90.5% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Tennessee?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Tennessee was 83.6% for economically disadvantaged students, 79.0% for students with disabilities and 68.0% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Tennessee?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Tennessee was 85.7% for Black, 82.1% for Hispanic and 93.5% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Tennessee score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Tennessee averaged 215 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 22nd highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 219 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 32% scored at or above Proficient and 39% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Tennessee score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Tennessee averaged 259 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 17th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 262 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 31% scored at or above Proficient and 32% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Tennessee score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Tennessee averaged 240 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 9th highest among the 50 states and DC, the same as 240 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 42% scored at or above Proficient and 22% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Tennessee score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Tennessee averaged 276 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 18th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 280 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 31% scored at or above Proficient and 38% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Tennessee spend per student?

Public school systems in Tennessee spent $12,882 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 8th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Tennessee going up?

Current spending per pupil in Tennessee rose from $9,868 in fiscal 2019 to $12,882 in fiscal 2024, up 30.5% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 5.6%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Tennessee spend school money on?

Of the $12,882 spent per pupil in Tennessee in fiscal 2024, $7,535 went on instruction and $4,688 on support services; salaries and wages came to $7,507 per pupil and employee benefits $2,408.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Tennessee come from?

Public school systems in Tennessee received $15.2 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 15.9% from the federal government, 44.3% from the state and 39.8% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Tennessee spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Tennessee was $14.8 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $12.9 billion was current spending and $1.5 billion capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $6.5 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Tennessee?

1,004,625 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Tennessee in fall 2023, down 1.0% on fall 2019 (1,014,744) and up 1.1% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Tennessee?

Public schools in Tennessee had 65,781 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 15.3 pupils per teacher, joint 20th most among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Tennessee in fall 2019: 15.7).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Tennessee have a college degree?

32.4% of adults aged 25 and over in Tennessee, about 1,620,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; joint 14th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 1.9 percentage points on 2021 (30.5%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Tennessee have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 12.4% of adults 25 and over in Tennessee had a graduate or professional degree and 8.0% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Tennessee did not finish high school?

90.6% of adults 25 and over in Tennessee had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 9.4% without one; that share is joint 18th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Tennessee compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Tennessee ranks 2 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
1	West Virginia	91.2%
2	Tennessee	90.4%
3	Wisconsin	90.3%
4	Massachusetts	90.1%
5	Kentucky	90.1%
6	Iowa	89.9%
7	Missouri	89.8%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Tennessee ranks 8 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
5	West Virginia	85.3%
6	Indiana	85.2%
7	California	84.6%
8	Tennessee	83.6%
9	Florida	83.2%
10	Massachusetts	83.2%
11	Alabama	82.6%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Tennessee ranks 23 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
20	Rhode Island	216
21	North Dakota	216
22	New York	215
23	Tennessee	215
24	Wisconsin	215
25	South Carolina	215
26	Iowa	215

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Tennessee ranks 20 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
17	Pennsylvania	259
18	Georgia	259
19	Washington	259
20	Tennessee	259
21	Maryland	258
22	Kentucky	258
23	Rhode Island	258

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Tennessee ranks 10 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
7	Minnesota	241
8	North Dakota	241
9	New Jersey	240
10	Tennessee	240
11	Indiana	240
12	South Dakota	240
13	Ohio	239

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Tennessee ranks 20 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
17	Connecticut	277
18	Pennsylvania	276
19	North Carolina	276
20	Tennessee	276
21	Vermont	276
22	Virginia	275
23	Iowa	275

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Tennessee ranks 18 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
15	Pennsylvania	31.4%
16	Idaho	30.9%
17	Indiana	30.8%
18	Tennessee	30.5%
19	Wyoming	30.0%
20	Washington	29.5%
21	North Dakota	29.5%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Tennessee ranks 34 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
31	Rhode Island	39.3%
32	Minnesota	39.1%
33	Hawaii	39.1%
34	Tennessee	38.9%
35	Wisconsin	38.8%
36	Idaho	38.6%
37	North Dakota	38.4%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Tennessee ranks 44 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
41	Indiana	$13,622
42	North Carolina	$12,995
43	Texas	$12,895
44	Tennessee	$12,882
45	South Dakota	$12,828
46	Florida	$12,693
47	Mississippi	$12,324

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Tennessee ranks 33 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
30	Texas	+31.2%
31	Indiana	+31.0%
32	Washington	+30.5%
33	Tennessee	+30.5%
34	Oklahoma	+30.5%
35	Kansas	+30.5%
36	West Virginia	+30.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Tennessee ranks 27 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
24	Oklahoma	41.5%
25	Utah	41.5%
26	Iowa	39.9%
27	Tennessee	39.8%
28	Wyoming	39.1%
29	North Dakota	38.4%
30	Oregon	37.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Tennessee ranks 19 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
16	Indiana	15.8
17	Minnesota	15.5
18	North Carolina	15.4
19	Tennessee	15.3
20	Kentucky	15.3
21	Texas	14.8
22	New Mexico	14.6

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Tennessee ranks 18 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
15	Oklahoma	-0.7%
16	Ohio	-0.9%
17	North Carolina	-1.0%
18	Tennessee	-1.0%
19	Georgia	-1.1%
20	New Jersey	-1.4%
21	Indiana	-1.8%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Tennessee ranks 39 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
36	Idaho	33.0%
37	Alaska	32.8%
38	Ohio	32.4%
39	Tennessee	32.4%
40	Wyoming	32.3%
41	Iowa	32.1%
42	New Mexico	31.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Tennessee ranks 18 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
15	Florida	9.6%
16	New Jersey	9.6%
17	Rhode Island	9.6%
18	Tennessee	9.4%
19	Indiana	9.4%
20	Illinois	9.3%
21	North Carolina	9.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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