The recently released results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) are the latest reports to confirm the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on academic achievement. In 2022, students nationwide, including those across Tennessee and Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS), performed lower than their peers performed on the 2019 test. NAEP tracks the nation’s progress primarily in 4th and 8th grade reading and math.

“The changes in the MSCS scores are consistent with the nation, Tennessee, and other large cities,” said Dr. Ray Hart, the executive director of the Council of the Great City Schools. “The NAEP data, collected at the peak of the COVID-19 Omicron variant wave, reflect the significant impact that the pandemic had in our Great Cities. The data underscores the challenges facing students in the aftermath of the pandemic.” 

The test, administered from January through March, is one snapshot of the pandemic’s disruption to learning. Some results include: 

• Nation: Scale scores dropped from 2019 to 2022 in grades 4 and 8, both in Reading and Math.
• State: Scale scores dropped from 2019 to 2022 in grades 4 and 8, both in Reading and Math.
• District: Scale scores dropped from 2019 to 2022 in grades 4 and 8, both in Reading and Math. Although, scale scores decreased for the district, proficiency rates for MSCS fourth grade reading remained stable across time. The percentage of students scoring proficient or above on the fourth- grade reading test in 2022 was not significantly different from 2017 and 2019 rates.

Approximately 46% of students in Memphis-Shelby County Schools are both African American and meet guidelines to be considered economically disadvantaged.

Students in this demographic, both Black and economically disadvantaged, have suffered greatly socially and emotionally during the pandemic. MSCS students performed on par with their peers in this demographic nationwide and statewide. An indictment on the triple burden of poverty, racism, and COVID-19, these findings reflect the urgent need for a national conversation on the federal investments and community supports needed to educate one of the nation’s most vulnerable populations.

The results on the statewide TCAP test, administered months later in the spring of 2022, reflect MSCS students trending up in learning recovery thanks to comprehensive tutoring and year-round interventions. These multi-million-dollar investments continue to extend the traditional school day to allow students more time with teachers, tutors, and tasks.

“Memphis-Shelby County Schools students are resilient, and with more time, they will continue to reclaim what the pandemic robbed from them socially, emotionally, and academically,” said MSCS Superintendent & CFO Toni Williams. “MSCS has used federal stimulus dollars to make key investments. Because of such efforts, we are already seeing evidence that the pandemic downturn is reversing.”

The following initiatives are underway: 

• Tutoring Programs: MSCS offers tutoring programs to equip students with additional tools for success. The before, during, and after school tutoring program for grades K-12 emphasize math and reading.
• Reduced Adult-to-Student Ratio: By reducing the adult-to-student ratio from 1:25 to 1:13 in K-2 classrooms, the District is giving our youngest learners the strongest start possible.
• Intervention Hour Initiative: An academic intervention period has been implemented districtwide to ensure that students are getting the academic support needed to address proficiency gaps.
• Math Initiatives: MSCS has added all eligible 8th graders to Algebra I to increase early access to rigorous math coursework. MSCS is also supporting schools in applying for STEM designations. Such schools offer students more robust math curriculum.
• Early Literacy Initiatives: Through our Strategic Partners for Literacy alliance, MSCS is working with agencies countywide to expand pre-K access. Additional pre-K classrooms will allow more students to arrive to kindergarten reading ready with essential pre-literacy skills. We have also provided Early Reading Training professional development to ensure early education teachers are equipped with the latest research on foundational literacy instruction.
• Community Awareness Initiatives: MSCS holds data nights at every school districtwide to keep parents informed about their child’s academic progress and available supports. This year, MSCS introduced its Lunch & Learn series where district officials visit worksites across the city to provide parents who may be unable to make it to their children’s schools opportunities to learn more about initiatives, interventions, and enrichments. The first Lunch & Learn session was held at UT Health Sciences in September, and upcoming sessions will be held at the Department of Human Services, Nike, and Amazon. Businesses interested in hosting MSCS for a Lunch & Learn session should contact ipartner@scsk12.org.