By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
From start to finish, the educational journey through Union City Schools is a Grade-A experience.
The Tennessee Department of Education says so.
All three schools in the Union City System have received the letter grade ‘A’ for 2024-25 in State Report Card data released on Thursday by the TDE.
The glowing report is the latest for Union City Schools, which last month was informed that each of Union City’s three campuses has been recognized as a Federal Reward School for 2024-25 by Governor Bill Lee and the Department of Education.
Additionally, Union City Schools – each of which earned Level 5 status in federal accountability – collectively were lauded as an Exemplary District, one of just 14 systems in the state to earn such a prestigious designation.
“There are no words to adequately describe how proud I am of our faculty, staff, and our students,” said Director of Schools Wes Kennedy, in his ninth year as the system’s top administrator after serving previously as a teacher, coach, and high school principal.
“Our people are simply amazing. They’re tireless with their collective efforts and, as a team, help us earn these statuses and rankings. I’m ecstatic for them, and I’m thrilled to work alongside them in the education profession.
“It’s great to be a Golden Tornado!”
The state-issued school letter grades provide a snapshot of how each school is meeting the state’s expectations for learning. That includes measures of student achievement and academic growth for all schools, as well as college and career-readiness for high schools.
The calculation to generate A-through-F letter grades for schools consists of four separate indicators and includes the growth of the highest-need students. The grades differentiate between elementary, middle, and high schools.
Schools received a score for each of the indicators, ranging from levels 1 to 5. Each indicator score was multiplied by a weight based on the grade band to create a total score, which was then used to determine the school’s letter grade.
“The 2024-25 State Report Card celebrates the progress and achievements of public schools and districts across Tennessee, empowering families and communities with the knowledge to support every student’s success,” said Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education.
“We are inspired by the dedication of schools that excelled in School Letter Grades and are making a meaningful difference for students. We invite all Tennesseans to join us in supporting, uplifting, and advancing the growth of every school in our state.”
This marks the third year that all schools have been assigned letter grades. In 2016, T.C.A. § 49-1-228 was established and required the Tennessee Department of Education to develop a school letter-grade rating system to provide parents and families with information showing how public schools are performing.
The state’s letter-grade legislation is intended to provide a snapshot of how each school performed during the previous academic year and compare those results over time.
The 2024-25 State Report Card and school letter grades can be accessed at the State Report Card website. For additional resources, visit the department’s State Report Card webpage and the TCAP Family Portal.