We are excited to present our 2024 Memphis State of Education Report. Over the past four years, our community, just as thousands across the country, has faced the unprecedented challenge of educating students during a pandemic. In Memphis, data suggests that performance is at or near pre-pandemic levels.

Community and school leaders are still working tirelessly to recover the academic, social, and emotional setbacks that occurred during one of the most devastating events in recent history. 

You can view our full report here: Memphis State of Education Report 2024

Over the next few weeks, Memphis Education Fund will host several community conversations, by region, to discuss the trends and opportunities relative to each neighborhood that we visit. We'd love for you to join us. Please register for any of the in-person events below. Refreshments will be provided, and schools supplies will be given away.

Tennessee Department of Education released state, district, and school-level TCAP results on Monday, June 24, 2024. The department said the results released include most fall 2023 end-of-course (EOC) exams and spring 2024 exams.

MSCS said students in the district who met or exceeded expectations from 2023 to 2024 increased in eight out of 10 categories.

MSCS said elementary students in grades three through five improved in all tested categories, with the greatest improvements in ELA and math. In ELA, MSCS said elementary students who made a proficient score (met or exceeded expectations) increased from 23.2% in 2023 to 26.0% in 2024. In math, they went from 20.9% in 2023 to 23.7% in 2024.

MSCS said sixth through eighth graders held steady or showed modest improvements overall, with the greatest gain in math, improving from 12.1% in 2023 to 14.9% in 2024. Those ELA scores fell slightly, from 17.2 % in 2023 to 17.1% in 2024. MSCS said the science and social studies scores improved.

MSCS said high school students improved in science, from 22.2% proficiency in 2023 to 26% proficiency, but their social studies proficiency rate declined slightly. Those students also improved in ELA, from 26.6% to 28%. Math End-of-Course (EOC) testing scores are not yet available.

Let’s talk more at one of our upcoming Community Conversations. See you soon!

LEADERSHIP TENNESSEE NEXT

Our very own Nekishia Woods Dobbins has been named to Leadership Tennessee’s NEXT Class IX! 

Leadership Tennessee, a collective with a mission to foster non-partisan dialogue on issues of state importance, today announced 32 individuals named to the Leadership Tennessee NEXT program, the ninth class to participate.

Leadership Tennessee NEXT is the state’s only statewide leadership program focusing on

Tennessee’s existing and emerging leaders and spanning geographic and industry boundaries.

This year’s class includes representatives from 11 Tennessee counties with diverse

professional experience in a wide range of sectors and industries.

Representing West Tennessee is:

• Lindsay Dawkins, Chief of Staff, Greater Jackson Chamber, Madison County
• Brandi Linsey, Campus Coordinator, Tennessee College of Applied Technology Memphis– Bartlett Campus, Shelby County
• Nekishia Woods Dobbins, Manager-Advocacy Operations Communications, Memphis Education Fund, Shelby County
• Edmond McDavis, III, Director, Tennessee Delta Alliance, Shelby County
• Pedro Velasquez, Executive Director, Lifedoc Health, Shelby County

For the complete class list, visit Leadership Tennessee.

Five of the nine seats on Memphis-Shelby County Schools board are on the ballot August 1, at a time of great transition for the school district, which is under the leadership of a new superintendent.

Now, 20 candidates are vying for board seats for Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7. Each of the five races is contested. Early voting begins July 12 and continues through July 27, before Election Day on August 1st.

Chalkbeat asked each of the 20 candidates to share more about their positions on the issues facing the district and how they planned to approach their leadership. You can read their responses and bios HERE.

You can find the full sample ballot for the August 1st primary election HERE.

Memphis-Shelby County School Board Candidates: