Knox County Schools reports multi-year gains in student proficiency and graduation rates

Knox County Schools Superintendent Dr. Ryswick told the school board that students posted achievement gains for the fourth consecutive year across every subject and that proficiency rates in math and English language arts have risen by more than 10 percent since February 2021. The gains coincide with a May graduating class of more than 4,200 students and a district graduation rate “hovering around 91 to 92 percent,” the superintendent said. He also said the typical graduate earned roughly three early postsecondary credits, such as AP courses, dual enrollment or industry certifications. The superintendent framed the results as the product of layered strategies, including the district’s 865 academies now operating in all 14 high schools and targeted instructional work led by Dr. Phillips and her team. “I’ve been with the district for more than 20 years, and I can’t remember another time when we’ve seen this level of momentum,” he said. Why it matters: sustained, multi-year gains across subgroups can affect course placement, college and career readiness work, and district planning for services. The superintendent said subgroup rates — including Black, Hispanic, Native American, economically disadvantaged and special education students — are rising alongside overall gains, but provided no subgroup-by-subgroup numeric breakdown in the meeting. Supporting details: the district said the average graduate completed about three early postsecondary opportunities. The superintendent cautioned that additional student-growth data received from the state is embargoed; he said the district expects to celebrate those results publicly by the end of the month. District leaders also framed the gains as evidence that staffing stability and the 865 academies are producing persistent improvements. “Principals talk about, ‘I only lost one staff member,’ ’I only lost two staff members,’ and the momentum they have going into the year,” the superintendent said. What the district did not state: the board meeting discussion did not include a full numeric breakdown of subgroup gains, nor an immediate public release of the embargoed student-growth data. The superintendent said the growth figures will be public later in the month. Looking ahead: district leaders emphasized the next task is to maintain and accelerate the momentum and said they will publicly present the newly received growth data once the state embargo is lifted.