OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (WOKI) — Oak Ridge Schools posted another year of strong academic performance on the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP), with students exceeding statewide proficiency rates in every major tested subject during the 2025-26 school year.
Districtwide results show Oak Ridge students outperformed Tennessee averages in English Language Arts, math, science, and social studies, while also demonstrating significant gains over the past five years.
In English Language Arts, 50.8 percent of Oak Ridge students were proficient, compared to 42.3 percent statewide. Math proficiency reached 52.3 percent, topping the state average of 40.9 percent. Science proficiency was 59.6 percent, well above the state rate, while social studies proficiency reached 63 percent compared to Tennessee’s 50 percent.
The district’s strongest long-term improvement came in mathematics, where overall proficiency has increased by 10.8 percentage points since the 2021-22 school year.
“Our teachers, staff members, students and families have remained focused on continuous improvement, and that commitment is reflected in the five-year trends,” said Superintendent Dr. Bruce Borchers.
Among individual subject areas, Oak Ridge students recorded notable gains in several high school mathematics courses. Algebra I proficiency climbed to 49 percent, a 22.5-point increase over five years. Algebra II proficiency rose to 46.3 percent, while Geometry reached 52.2 percent.
Science performance also remained strong, with 59.8 percent proficiency among students in grades 3 through 8 and 58.5 percent proficiency in Biology I. Social studies results were among the district’s best, with 63.1 percent proficiency in grades 6 through 8 and 62.7 percent proficiency in U.S. History.
Individual Schools Show Continued Growth
Several schools posted notable achievements in the latest testing cycle.
Linden Elementary reached its highest proficiency levels in the past five years, recording 69.8 percent in English Language Arts, 70.3 percent in math, and 72.1 percent in science.
Willow Brook Elementary posted one of the district’s strongest year-over-year improvements, including a 12-point increase in math proficiency.
Glenwood Elementary continued to significantly outperform state averages, exceeding Tennessee’s math proficiency rate by more than 20 percentage points. Woodland Elementary achieved its highest English Language Arts proficiency of the past five years at 50.8 percent.
At the middle school level, Jefferson Middle School reached a five-year high in English Language Arts proficiency at 48.4 percent. The school also reported that 95.7 percent of eighth-grade students enrolled in Algebra I achieved proficiency.
Robertsville Middle School has improved in every tested subject area since 2021-22, including an eight-point increase in math proficiency.
Oak Ridge High School remained above state averages in all tested subjects and has more than doubled Algebra I proficiency over the past five years.
Borchers said the district’s focus remains on helping every student succeed while continuing to build on recent gains.
“Continuous improvement means celebrating success while remaining focused on where we can get better,” Borchers said. “These results give us a strong foundation as we continue working toward our vision of every student being prepared for college, career and life success.”
District leaders say the latest TCAP scores reflect both strong current achievement and a sustained pattern of academic growth across Oak Ridge Schools.
