White County Shows TCAP Growth In New Numbers

White County Schools celebrating widespread growth and proficiency on TCAP scores.

Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger said the district has two unspoken goals when it comes to TCAP results: score above the state average and top five in the Upper Cumberland for proficiency in all subjects. In results just released, Dronebarger said the district accomplished both this year.

“I think it’s definitely something we can build on,” Dronebarger said. “We’ll share these results and be excited about it. Be able to celebrate some of these things. We’ve seen some growth in some areas that, previously, had not shown that kind of success, and so we can build on that. It’s something that we can say to our new teachers, ‘Hey, this is the way it’s done, these are the things that you need to do to be successful.'”

Dronebarger said he is especially pleased to see third and fourth-grade ELA proficiency numbers prove that the extra tutoring and intervention worked. He said fifth-grade math scores also stood out with 57 percent proficiency, 13 percent above the state average.

“There was a lot that went into that,” Dronebarger said. “A lot of extra time and effort, there was extra positions as far as tutoring goes and extra interventions that went on there, and it seems to have paid off as we’ve seen big growth in that area. So, very proud of our third grade, fourth grade, and fifth grade for the gains that we’ve seen there.”

He said students and parents also deserve high praise for their focus and determination. He said nice scores this time around are a nice momentum builder that the district can use to springboard into 2025.

“We’re really proud of just our curriculum team in general,” Dronebarger said. “The work that those supervisors did to work with our teachers and our teachers, the way they came in and prepared, you know, they’re here through the summer. I know people think that teaching is just a job where you work eight to three and get your summers off, but it’s really not anymore.”

Dronebarger said test preparation is a team effort and he is pleased to see the team’s hard work result in positive movement.