Since 1992, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce has taken an annual detailed look at the state of Metro Nashville Public Schools through the lens of helping the district and community focus on key educational areas.
Some points in this year’s report offer highlights. Other pieces of the report show areas that need work.
Through the good and bad, the constructive criticism is aimed at improving educational outcomes, according to its authors.
“The report card is designed to be the start of a conversation,” said Rob Elliott, co-chairman of the report card committee. “Not the end of it.”
Noteworthy
High schools lead Nashville in year-to-year progress, with eight of the district’s 23 high schools achieving or excelling on performance measures.
Graduation rates reached a five-year high, with 81.6 percent of seniors graduating in the district.
The district provides principals with the power to develop the most effective strategies to improve their schools.
Public perception of Nashville schools improved, with a chamber poll saying 40 percent of Davidson County residents believe the district is headed in the right direction.
The majority of Nashville’s teachers — 84.4 percent — scored as effective to highly effective on the state’s teacher rating. (continue reading at Tennesseean)