Website ranks state’s schools at No. 42,
NASHVILLE — While Tennessee students have made major strides in national exams over the last several years, a new study by the consumer finance website WalletHub says the state’s public school systems remain in the bottom ranks of states.
WalletHub analysts ranked Tennessee school systems No. 42 among the 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Website researchers graded states on 21 factors in areas broadly falling into academic achievement and safety.
In areas pertaining to academics — which included measurements like ACT and SAT scores, drop-out rates and state per-pupil spending — Tennessee ranked No. 35.
But in factors indicating safe learning environments for students, Tennessee ranked 49th nationally. That included figures involving students threatened or injured at school, students getting bullied or carrying weapons and disciplinary rates and reported availability of drugs on school property.
Tennessee was given an overall score of 40.58. Massachusetts was the top-ranked state at 78.16. Arkansas was worst, placed at No. 51 with a 37.97 score.
“What were they ranking?
I’d have to look at the criteria they’re using. I always go back and say if we’re going to compare school systems, we should compare them the one way you do.”
— TENNESSEE GOV. BILL HASLAM
Gov. Bill Haslam was unfamiliar with the WalletHub ranking and appeared a little dubious on Tuesday when asked about Tennessee’s rankings.
“What were they ranking?” the governor asked. “I’d have to look at the criteria they’re using. I always go back and say if we’re going to compare school systems, we should compare them the one way you do.”
And that’s the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the “Nation’s Report Card,” the governor said.
After years of being in the cellar on assessments, Tennessee has made major improvements in recent years, with students showing more growth over time in reading and math in 2013 and 2015 and last year in science.
“That’s the one test that’s the same all across,” Haslam said.