Anderson County School District

Anderson County Schools Earns “Advancing” Designation from Tennessee Department of Education

CLINTON, Tenn. — The Anderson County Schools has been recognized as an “Advancing” district for the 2024–25 school year under the accountability system of the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE). 

What “Advancing” means

Under Tennessee’s accountability framework, districts are evaluated across six major performance indicators: success rates in core subjects by grade band (grades 3–5, 6–8, 9–12), chronic absenteeism (students “chronically out of school”), performance for English learners (via English Language Proficiency Assessment), and graduation rates. 

District accountability scores are calculated using a weighted average of scores across all indicators and student groups. Based on that aggregate score, districts receive one of five designations: Exemplary, Advancing, Satisfactory, Marginal, or In Need of Improvement. 

For 2024–25, the “Advancing” designation is awarded to districts whose overall score is 2.1 or higher but below 3.1. This year, 100 districts statewide — including Anderson County — earned this status.

What it signals for Anderson County

The “Advancing” label reflects steady — and broadly positive — performance across key measures such as academic achievement, student growth, attendance, equity for English learners, and graduation outcomes. It suggests the district is building momentum and moving in a positive direction toward higher standards of excellence.

While not the top “Exemplary” tier, “Advancing” acknowledges that the district is doing better than many peers statewide; this can be a source of pride for students, families, educators, and community stakeholders.

Statewide picture & significance

The TDOE announced the 2024–25 district designations on November 21, 2025, as approved by the Tennessee State Board of Education.

• Fourteen districts statewide earned the top “Exemplary” designation (overall score ≥ 3.1) 

• One hundred districts earned “Advancing” (2.1 ≤ score < 3.1), putting Anderson County among the middle-tier districts statewide. 

• Twenty-one districts were designated “Satisfactory,” and eight were flagged as “In Need of Improvement.”

The district accountability system helps highlight strengths and identify areas where further support may be needed. Statewide, designations like “Advancing” and “Exemplary” allow communities to track improvement and hold school systems accountable. 

What might be next for Anderson County

This “Advancing” designation offers a strong foundation for Anderson County Schools to build on — focusing resources and attention to push toward “Exemplary.” Continued efforts on reducing chronic absenteeism, supporting English learners, boosting student growth, and maintaining high graduation rates will be key.

Local school leaders, educators, and community members can use the momentum from this designation to celebrate successes, reflect on areas needing growth, and prioritize strategies that foster academic achievement for all students.

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