Rutherford County Schools touts top Level 5 status from TN state

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32 district schools also earn Level 5 recognition

Schools Director Jimmy Sullivan credits teachers and principals for focusing on students and the expected standards
District earns the Level 5 status for 6th straight year
Rutherford County Board of Education chairman Claire Maxwell says district has returned to academic growth prior to start of 2020 pandemic that impacted learning

Rutherford County Schools and 32 campuses earned top Level 5 status from the state for 2024-25 academic growth, the district announced Aug. 28.

District Director Jimmy Sullivan praised principals and teachers with efforts that focus on students to earn the Level 5 recognition for the sixth consecutive year for the county from the Tennessee Department of Education, according to the news release.

The district also had 32 schools achieving Level 5 for the second consecutive year, according to the news release.

Level 5 status signifies the highest possible measurement of student academic growth beyond the standard one year’s academic growth based on the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS), according to the Tennessee Department of Education. The level reflects that designated schools in the district made significantly more academic growth than expected in a year.

“We’ve become accustomed to being a Level 5 district, but people don’t understand how important it is and what it means,” Sullivan said in the news release.

“Year after year, our students are performing above and beyond expectations,” added Sullivan, who has served as director since July 2022 after previously overseeing districtwide instruction efforts.

Sullivan credited district educators for “simplifying the process of teaching” by focusing on students, the expected standards before them and building relationships with students and families to help them be successful academically and in life, the news release said.

Board chairman touts return to pre-pandmic achievement

The Level 5 recognition pleased Rutheford County Board of Education chairman Claire Maxwell.

“I’m abusoutly thrilled and am so proud of the district, our staff and superintendent (Sullivan) work so well together,” said Maxwell, adding that she’s not surprised by the Level 5 recognition. “We have consistently shown that we can reach new heights.”

Maxwell also is proud that Riverdale High where she and her four sons graduated earned a Level 5 recognition for the second year in a row.

The district has returned to previous academic growth levels prior to the 2020 pandemic impact on learning, Maxwell suggested.

“Covid’s behind us − alleluia,” Maxwell said.

Ranking based on academic growth

Districts and schools earn a ranking of 1 through 5 to measure annual student academic growth. A ranking of three, for example, signals a student experienced one year’s worth of growth academically, while a ranking of four or five shows a student grew by more than a year’s worth academically, according to the news release.

The number of schools receiving Level 5 designation has grown from 19 schools in 2021-2022 and 26 in 2022-2023, to 32 each of the last two years, the news release said.

For the 2024-2025 school year, 42 of Rutherford’s 48 eligible schools earned a ranking of three or higher.

“We’re proud of that because it represents the opportunities students may not have had without outstanding leadership in our schools, effective teaching and partnerships with our parents,” Sullivan said.

“We can’t control where (students) start their educational journey, but we can ensure they grow every year they’re with us.”

32 RCS schools earn top Level 5 status for academic growth

Barfield Elementary
Blackman Middle
Buchanan Elementary
Cedar Grove Elementary
Central Magnet
Christiana Elementary
Christiana Middle
John Colemon Elementary
Kittrell Elementary
Lascassas Elementary
La Vergne Middle
McFadden School of Excellence
Oakland High
Oakland Middle
Plainview Elementary
Riverdale High
Rock Springs Middle
Rockvale Elementary
Rockvale High
Rockvale Middle
Rocky Fork Elementary
Rocky Fork Middle
Siegel High
Siegel Middle
Smyrna Elementary
Smyrna Middle
Stewarts Creek Elementary
Stewarts Creek High
Stewarts Creek Middle
Thurman Francis Arts Academy
Whitworth-Buchanan Middle
Wilson Elementary

Source: Rutherford County Schools news release

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