The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) officially announced the designations for schools and districts for the 2024-25 academic year. This year, an impressive 459 schools across the state have earned the Reward School designation, representing a significant 22% increase from last year’s total of 377 Reward Schools in 2023-24.
JC Bowman, Executive Director of the Professional Educators of Tennessee, commended the relentless effort of educators and students, stating, “Tennessee educators and students continue to excel in schools across the state; this is a testament to their effort and hard work.”
Key Highlights from the Announcement:
– Reward Schools:This prestigious recognition is awarded to schools achieving a federal accountability score of 3.1 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) while demonstrating strong performance and/or improvement in student achievement, growth, and other critical indicators across all student groups.
– Exemplary Districts: The number of districts earning the Exemplary District designation rose by 40%, increasing from 10 to 14.
– In Need of Improvement Districts: The number of districts identified as “In Need of Improvement” decreased by 11%, from 9 to 8.
Commissioner of Education Lizzette Reynolds praised the results, attributing them to the commitment and dedication of educators, school leaders, and students. The designations were approved by the State Board of Education on November 21, 2025.
This progress reflects our continued investment in Tennessee’s K-12 system, including improvements in literacy, teacher support, and accountability reforms,” said Reynolds.
She added: “Congratulations to the 459 Reward Schools and the 14 Exemplary Districts for achieving this remarkable milestone!”
Performance Metrics and Designation Criteria
Schools and districts earn their designations based on a variety of performance indicators that are crucial to student success, including:
– Student achievement and proficiency
– Accelerated student learning and growth
– Regular school attendance
– Graduation rates and readiness for postsecondary success
– Support for English learners in acquiring language skills
Reward Schools are recognized for demonstrating high levels of performance and/or improvement across these indicators. Similarly, a district is designated as Exemplary when it achieves an overall performance score of 3.1 or higher on the same 4.0-point scale.
List of Designated Exemplary Districts
The following 14 districts have been recognized as Exemplary:
– Alamo City School
– Alvin C. York Institute
– Arlington Community Schools
– Bells City Schools
– Franklin Special School District
– Germantown Municipal Schools
– Greeneville City Schools
– Newport City School
– Perry County Schools
– Putnam County Schools
– Richard City Special School District
– Rogersville City School
– Tennessee Charter Commission
– Union City Schools
The complete list of Reward Schools, Exemplary Districts, and other designations can be found on the TDOE’s accountability webpage: [2025 School Accountability].
This announcement is a celebration of the unwavering dedication and hard work within Tennessee’s educational system. The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) extended heartfelt congratulations to all the recognized schools and districts. For any further information or media inquiries, please contact the TDOE at Edu.MediaInquiries@tn.gov.
