New TCAP Scores Show Slow Progress, Students Still Not Meeting General Proficiencies

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Tennessee Conservative News [By Olivia Lupia] –

The 2026 TCAP State Results have been released by the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE), showing modest gains in some subjects but still mainly reflecting that less than 50% of students are proficient in any subject.

According to this year’s data from TDOE, the percentages for most subjects in the “Exceeded Expectations” or “Met Expectations” categories were within 1-2% of last year’s results, with most subjects increasing, but a couple, like English I, slightly declining. 

Overall, subjects that did improve appear to have done so very modestly, a continuation of the pattern reflected in the data from at least 2021.

The largest block of almost every subject remains the “Approaching Expectations” group, which has remained the largest for most subjects since 2021. However there appears to be quite a bit of fluctuation by subject. 

For example, while overall English Language Arts (ELA) showed 49.9% of students “Approaching Expectations” in 2021, that number is down to 39.5% in 2026 and appears to have been redistributed to meet or exceed expectations categories. Meanwhile, overall math scores showed 30.4% of students “Approaching Expectations” in 2021 but growing to 35.5% in 2026, with that increase coming mostly from students rising out of the “Below Expectations” group. 

But while the district-level data showed gains in certain subjects like ELA, math, and social studies, overall, the number of students who meet or exceed expectations has remained under 50% since at least 2021, perhaps further distilling the narrative that the COVID era was solely responsible for the stagnant numbers.

TDOE touted the gains made in a press release last month, stating that third grade student achievement reached its highest level since at least 2017 in ELA and fourth graders made “substantial” proficiency gains in mathematics, but neglected to point out that most students are still struggling to grasp basic concepts in reading, math, science, and history.

WSMV4 did extensive investigating into testing data sets from the past several years, finding Tennessee students are “by-and-large” not grasping major concepts in pivotal years and have not for a long time.

The analysis of 3^rd through 8^th graders’ performance from 2023 through 2025 showed the majority of students are moving on to the next grade without “meaningfully retaining” concepts learned the prior year and that over 50% of students did not meet expectations in every single subject tested. 

“The testing shows a trend that could endanger students’ educations long past elementary and middle school,” the report reads. “The performance of students in this age group, particularly among third graders, is considered crucial. The National Parent Teacher Association explains that third grade is a ‘pivotal year’ for children because it lays the groundwork for the rest of their primary schooling.”

Additionally, the report shows high school performances to be even worse in some areas, with one out of every two students not being proficient in English, math, history, or biology. Math appears to be the weakest subject for Tennessee high schoolers, as less than one out of three were proficient in 2025.

And that statistic is still after a 7% jump from two years prior, when only 23.1% of high schoolers received proficient math scores. 

High schoolers scored the highest in reading, with nearly 47% of students testing at or above expectations, and 2025 saw year-over-year improvements in every subject except history, which remained nearly the same. But still, more than 50% of high school students received scores that did not meet expectations that year.

However, the report contends that these numbers are not necessarily cause for alarm, as the data appears somewhat in line with the rest of the country based on the The Nation’s Report Card (TNRC) used by the National Center for Education Statistics to track “student achievement and learning experiences” across the U.S. as mandated by Congress.

The most recent available TNRC data from 2024 shows the average 8^th grader scored between 29% and 33% proficiency in math, reading, science, and writing, meaning that Tennessee’s level of student comprehension is on par with national numbers. 

Yet the 2026 TCAP results remain concerning as the data shows widespread weakness in math skills and vulnerability among middle schoolers. While this year’s report does show gains across most subjects, it still indicates a lack of retention and comprehension across all age groups.

To read the full report from WSMV4, click HERE. 

About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.