News Summary
Johnson City Schools have secured the highest TCAP and standardized test scores in Northeast Tennessee for 2025, as reported by the Tennessee Department of Education. This achievement highlights the district’s dedication to educational excellence, surpassing other regional school systems. Notably, Johnson City’s students excelled in English/language arts, math, and science, setting a commendable benchmark for other counties and cities in the area. The district’s performance remains a testament to the effective use of data analytics and targeted instructional strategies.
Johnson City, Tennessee – Johnson City Schools have achieved the highest TCAP and standardized test scores in Northeast Tennessee for the year 2025, according to data released by the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) on July 9, 2025. This announcement underscores the school’s commitment to educational excellence as they outperformed all other school systems in the region.
The analysis of performance included TCAP data for grades 3 through 8 and high school end-of-course exam results from six county systems and five city systems, excluding Johnson County due to its virtual school option. Notably, statewide, an average of 41.7% of students met or exceeded standards in English/language arts (ELA) for the 2025 testing cycle.
In ELA, Johnson City scored an impressive 57.3%, significantly surpassing the state average, while Elizabethton followed closely with a score of 55.1%. However, Johnson City’s score was a decline from 64.1% in 2024. Bristol recorded the lowest city system score in ELA at 45%. Furthermore, Bristol exhibited significant improvement in ELA scores, rising from 37.6% in 2024.
Among county systems, Sullivan County and Washington County surpassed the state average with scores of 45.3% and 44.5%, respectively. Meanwhile, Unicoi County recorded the lowest ELA score at 29.1%, with Greene, Unicoi, and Washington counties all experiencing declines from the previous year. Carter County made strides, improving from 34.1% in 2024 to 40.6% in 2025. Washington County experienced a decrease in ELA scores, dropping from 52.1% in 2024.
In the area of math, Johnson City led the city schools with a 63.7% pass rate, while Elizabethton scored 51.4%. In science, Johnson City also took the lead, with 68.6% of students meeting or exceeding standards. All five city school systems witnessed improvements in their ELA, math, and science scores compared to their 2024 results.
Regarding high school subject performance, Johnson City was the highest for English 1 scores, achieving 58.5%, while Bristol had the lowest at 40.6%. In Algebra 1, statewide performance was less impressive, with only 29.4% of students meeting standards, and three county systems fell below that threshold. The highest Biology 1 scores were achieved by Johnson City at 69.9% and Kingsport at 62.4%. Unicoi County performed the best among counties in Biology 1, garnering a score of 53%, exceeding the statewide average of 45.7%.
In a previous analysis concerning the letter grades for schools in Northeast Tennessee for the 2023-2024 school year, it was reported that Johnson City had an exemplary record, with 10 out of 11 schools receiving an “A” in achievement. This grading system evaluates performance using several factors, including achievement, improvement, support for high-need students, and readiness for college and careers.
The performance levels varied among Johnson City Schools, with five schools receiving an “A,” three achieving a “B,” and three scoring a “C.” In comparison, the region as a whole performed slightly better than the state average, with 53% of schools receiving either “A” or “B” grades compared to 46% statewide. Johnson County stood out for the wrong reasons, with four schools obtaining a “D” grade and two achieving a “C.”
Johnson City Schools Superintendent emphasized the use of data analytics to refine instructional methods across the system, allowing for targeted improvements and strengthened educational outcomes. As Johnson City’s achievement stands out in the region, a focus on enhancing student performance remains paramount in the continuous quest for academic excellence.
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Additional Resources
- WJHL: Northeast TN Schools Letter Grades
- Wikipedia: Standardized Testing
- Johnson City Press: Science Hill Students ACT Scores
- Google Search: Science Hill Students ACT Scores
- Hoover Sun: Hoover Students Test Score Gains
- Google Scholar: Educational Excellence
- Hoover Sun: Hoover Students Test Score Gains
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Hoover Students Test Scores
- Modbee: Local Education News
- Google News: Modesto Education
Author: STAFF HERE BRISTOL WRITTER
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