KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. — The largest school district in East Tennessee has improved its ranking with the state, and a fourth of its schools received the highest "reward" ranking.
Knox County Schools received a "satisfactory" ranking, the second-highest rating from the Tennessee Department of Education. The ranking was improved from KCS being "in need of improvement."
The district credits tutoring as part of its success. Ritta Elementary's principal, Shawnda Ernst, said tutoring helped her school make huge strides.
"At the beginning of last school year, our biggest subgroup was in the bottom 5% in math," Ernst said. "Last year, we only had two part-time tutors. But they worked so hard. They were so invested in our kids and trying to help them grow. And we see a difference. "
Ernst said now, there is a full-time tutor at the school. But she also said kids need help with socioemotional skills before they can sit in the classroom and learn. Often, that means support from counselors, teaching assistants and social workers.
"We have to figure out a way to help these kids who are struggling with socioemotional issues," Ernst said "We're in the business of educating. And people do expect us to do everything."
KCS also thanked community partners like the Boys and Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley and the United Way of Greater Knoxville for support. Bart McFadden, the Boys and Girls Club president, said it offers support for kids who need it outside of the classroom.
"Need is no longer confined to certain zip codes. Need is no longer confined to certain schools," McFadden said. "These are the challenges that are coming into our schools. They're walking into our clubs, they're walking into gyms program at the YMCA, and we've got to put staff there. They can wrap these kids up with great relationships with a lot of care."
KCS says they're looking at making tutoring more available because they see it's working. But, they said they struggle with a finite budget.
Here are the 24 Knox County Schools that got the "reward" ranking.
- A.L. Lotts Elementary
- Amherst Elementary
- Ball Camp Elementary
- Bearden Elementary
- Blue Grass Elementary
- Bonny Kate Elementary
- Career Magnet Academy
- Copper Ridge Elementary
- Christenberry Elementary
- Farragut Intermediate
- Farragut High
- Gap Creek Elementary
- Gibbs Elementary
- Hardin Valley Elementary
- KCS Virtual Middle School
- L&N STEM Academy
- Mt. Olive Elementary
- New Hopewell Elementary
- Northshore Elementary
- Ritta Elementary
- Sequoyah Elementary
- Shannondale Elementary
- South Knox Elementary
- West View Elementary