For the fourth year in a row, Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) earned an Overall Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS) Composite Level 5, the highest possible growth rating. Taken together across all grades and subjects, MSCS students made significantly more growth than expected. Literacy also posted a districtwide Level 5 for the fourth consecutive year, underscoring the strength and consistency of instructional practice.
Graph 1: MSCS TVAAS Composite Levels throughout the last 4 years (Overall and by Subject)
“Earning an overall Level 5 for the fourth consecutive year proves that greatness is not a moment in Memphis-Shelby County Schools; it is a movement.” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Roderick Richmond.
“This milestone reflects the dedication of our teachers, the resilience of our students, and the unwavering support of our families. Progress is not accidental. It is intentional, hard-earned, and born from the belief that every child holds unlimited potential. Greatness grows here because our community cultivates it every day in our classrooms, on our fields, and through every act of perseverance. Together we are showing the nation what is possible when a district unites around its children.”
Rising Schools, Rising Futures
This year, eight schools posted dramatic gains, rising from a Level 1 Overall Composite in 2024 to Level 5 in 2025:
- Bolton High
- Douglass High
- Memphis Delta Preparatory
- Riverwood Elementary
- Rozelle Elementary
- Sheffield Elementary
- Springdale Elementary
- Winridge Elementary
Douglass High School saw exceptional progress in its 2025 TCAP results, earning notable gains in both ELA and Math. These achievements reflect the dedication of our educators, the commitment of our students, and the strength of our instructional strategies.
“The academic gains in Math and English Language Arts at Douglass High School are the result of a shared commitment to excellence across our entire school community. With the right tools, encouragement, and expectations, we are showing what is possible. At Douglass, we believe winners win together, and we are proving that every student has the ability to win, grow, and thrive.” — Marketta Steward, Principal, Douglass High School
Riverwood Elementary: A Culture of Incremental Growth
Riverwood Elementary achieved a remarkable transformation, moving from a Level 1 to a Level 5 Overall Composite in just one year. This success was fueled by a school community deeply committed to daily improvement and student-centered practices.
“At Riverwood, we had a shared purpose to focus on students by name and by need. We worked to challenge ideas, not people. From the very beginning, our teachers and staff embraced the mindset of getting one percent better every day. Collaborative planning and deep reflection on student work helped us gauge readiness and tailor instruction to ensure growth,” said Dr. Michael Lowe, Regional Superintendent for the Southeast Region, who served as Principal of Riverwood Elementary in 2024–2025 and guided the school’s transformation from Level 1 to Level 5.
Rozelle Elementary: A Magnet for Excellence
Rozelle Elementary stands as a beacon of excellence in Memphis-Shelby County Schools, celebrated for its unwavering commitment to both academic rigor and artistic innovation. Under visionary leadership, Rozelle has earned multiple distinctions:
These honors affirm Rozelle’s role as a national model for arts-integrated, affirmation-driven education.
“At Rozelle, we believe that excellence is expansive. Our students do not have to choose between brilliance in the arts and achievement in academics. They embody both. These honors affirm what we see every day: when creativity and scholarship walk hand in hand, children rise. They become confident, expressive, and prepared to lead.
This recognition is not just a celebration of our students’ gifts, but it is a tribute to a school community that nurtures greatness, honors legacy, and invests deeply in every child’s future.” — Dr. Taurus Hines, Principal, Rozelle Elementary
Strengthening Social Studies for Deeper Learning
While MSCS sustained Level 5 growth across most tested areas, districtwide Social Studies growth fell to Level 2 in Grades 4-8, even as high-school End of Course (EOC) Social Studies improved to Level 3.
Research shows Social Studies instruction in early grades is often minimized compared to ELA and Math, particularly for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Yet Social Studies builds essential content knowledge that strengthens literacy and prepares students for college, careers, and civic life. More than half of academic vocabulary is tied to Social Studies content, making it an untapped driver of reading growth.
Our current composite level indicates limited mastery of Social Studies standards in Grades 4-8, especially in geography, civics, economics, and historical analysis. To address this, the district is implementing a comprehensive action plan that strengthens curriculum, professional learning, assessment, and student engagement in Social Studies at every grade level.
Graph 2: Composite Levels in Social Studies by Grades, years 2024-2025
The Plan: Targeted K–12 Actions for Social Studies Growth
- Curriculum and Instruction: Audit and align K–12 Social Studies curriculum, integrate inquiry-based strategies, source analysis, and arts integration.
- Professional Learning: Provide training on reading and writing in Social Studies, questioning strategies, and digital integration, supported through workshops and embedded coaching.
- Assessment and Data: Expand common formative assessments, embed Social Studies into Performance Matters, and establish monthly teacher cohorts for data-driven reflection.
- Student Engagement: Increase project-based learning, civic projects, gamification, and simulations like debates and mock trials.
- Accountability: Strengthen district monitoring, teacher supports, and parent communication around Social Studies benchmarks and exams.
- Resources and Budget: Provide maps, digital tools, and technology, funded through Title I, professional learning budgets, and local and national grants.
Scaling Success
This spring, middle school and U.S. History teachers participated in district cohorts to address standards where students underperformed. With support from Curriculum and Instruction, teachers applied The Social Studies Practices while staying aligned to Tennessee standards. As a result, US History EOC scores improved, raising EOC Social Studies to Level 3.
Next, MSCS will extend these high school strategies into elementary classrooms, ensuring daily Social Studies instruction and inquiry-based learning begin earlier. This foundation will build content knowledge and literacy that prepares students for long-term success.
Forward with Purpose
Year after year, MSCS has demonstrated steady, systemwide growth. TVAAS 2025 affirms that trajectory with an Overall Level 5 and Level 5 in Literacy, Numeracy, and Science, while also pointing to critical work ahead in Social Studies and early grades.
“Even as we celebrate this incredible milestone, we must also face with honesty the areas where we did not meet our expectations,” said Dr. Richmond. “Greatness grows not by ignoring challenges, but by confronting them with vision and determination. That is why our focus is clear: Academics, Attendance, Attitude, Athletics, and the Arts. These five pathways to greatness will guide our progress. Every data point tells a story, and even where we see struggle, we also see opportunity. Our commitment is that no child and no school will be overlooked. We will rise together, and we will continue to prove that in Memphis-Shelby County Schools, greatness is not just possible. It is inevitable.”
In Tennessee, student growth is measured by the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS), which differs from proficiency measured by TCAP. While TCAP shows how students performed at a single point in time, TVAAS highlights how much students have grown compared to peers with similar past performance. This ensures that growth is recognized no matter where a student begins.
For more details and to explore school- and district-level TVAAS data, visit the TVAAS public reporting site. For District-specific data, please visit the MSCS TVAAS page