More Tennessee Schools Receive an A on this Year’s School Letter Grades

Graphic by the Tennessee Department of Education

Updated on 12/19/25 to include public charter school data.

When the Tennessee Department of Education released its annual School Letter Grades last year, Rozelle Elementary School in Memphis was among those receiving an F grade. 

Rozelle Principal Taurus Hines (Photo by MSCS)

Rozelle Principal Taurus Hines says his school raised that F to a B this year through hard work and collaboration among students, teachers, staff, and families.

“Through focused instructional strategies, data-driven decision-making, and a commitment to academic excellence, we have created an artistic environment where every child can thrive,” said Hines. “This progress demonstrates that when a community works together with a shared vision, transformational change is possible. We will continue to build on this momentum to ensure sustained success and growth for all students.”

The state calculates School Letter Grades based on a school’s achievement, growth, and other factors, such as college and career readiness for high school students. The grades are designed to provide parents with important accountability and transparency into how well public schools are serving students.

Improvements for 2024-25 Letter Grades

Rozelle is among the 483 schools receiving an overall B letter grade, according to data released Thursday afternoon in the 2024-25 State School Report Card, which includes School Letter Grades. That’s down slightly from 485 last year, but the number of schools receiving an A letter grade is up by more than 22 percent.

355 schools across the state received an overall A letter grade, compared to 290 last year.

“The 2024-25 State Report Card celebrates the progress and achievements of public schools and districts across Tennessee, empowering families and communities with the knowledge to support every student’s success,” said Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds. “We are inspired by the dedication of schools that excelled in School Letter Grades and are making a meaningful difference for students. We invite all Tennesseans to join us in supporting, uplifting, and advancing the growth of every school in our state.”

Memphis-Shelby County Schools Reports Improvement

The state’s largest school district reported more schools improving performance on the School Letter Grades, and fewer Memphis-Shelby County Schools are scoring below a C.

In a press release sent to the Tennessee Firefly, the district reported the percentage of schools earning a C or higher rose from 61.3 percent last year to 67 percent. Additionally, the number of district schools receiving a B grew from 41 to 52, and the number receiving a D shrank from 55 to 42.

“These results show that our growth is beginning to take shape across the District,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Roderick Richmond.  “Each improvement reflects the daily commitment of our teachers, principals, students, and families. While there is still work ahead, we are encouraged by the progress and remain focused on strengthening instruction and support for every school.” 

Charter School Improvements

Public charter schools are also seeing improvements in this year’s School Letter Grades.

An analysis by the Tennessee Charter School Center found 37 percent of charter schools earned either an A or a B this year, and the number earning an A rose by 5 percent compared to last year. Additionally, 30 percent of charters moved to a higher letter grade, compared to 26 percent of non-charter schools.

The Charter Center also found that Nashville’s charter schools earned A and B letter grades at more than twice the rate of non-charter schools (54 percent to 21 percent). 56 percent of the schools authorized by the Tennessee Charter School Commission earned an A letter grade.

Tennessee launched its initial School Letter Grades in 2023.