#TheRCSdifference: District, 37 schools attain state’s highest student performance designation
November 12, 2026
Rutherford County Schools and a record 37 of its individual schools have attained Level 5 status for student performance for the 2025-2026 academic school year, according to information released today by the Tennessee Department of Education.
This marks the seventh consecutive year the district has achieved Level 5 recognition, the highest possible rating. Rankings are based on student performance on the TCAP assessments, which are administered each spring.
"Rutherford County Schools continues to show exceptional academic growth earning the highest possible score of a 5 in all subject areas," said Director of Schools Dr. Jimmy Sullivan. "Additionally, we have 37 of our schools who earned an overall Level 5 which surpasses last year’s record of 32."
Dr. Sullivan noted that RCS is one of the largest school districts in the nation with a constantly changing student population because of rapid local growth.
"As a school district, we cannot control the academic performance of when a student enters our schools, but we expect that each child will grow academically at least one year each and every year," Sullivan added. "TVAAS growth is the measure for that expectation and we are so proud of the collective effort of our students, parents, families, administrators, and the amazing work of our teachers and staff."
School districts are ranked on a scale of one to five to measure annual student academic growth. A ranking of three indicates a student has achieved one year of academic growth, while a four or five shows they have grown by more than a full year.
The number of RCS schools receiving Level 5 status has grown from 19 schools in 2021-2022, to 26 in 2022-2023, to 32 in both 2023-2024 and 2024-2025.
In the 2025-2026 academic year, 47 of 49 eligible RCS schools earned a ranking of three or higher.
Full list of Level 5 schools:
Barfield Elementary School
Blackman High School
Blackman Middle School
Brown’s Chapel Elementary School
Buchanan Elementary
Cedar Grove Elementary School
Central Magnet School
Christiana Elementary School
Eagleville School
Homer Pittard Campus School
Kittrell Elementary School
LaVergne High School
LaVergne Lake Elementary School
LaVergne Middle School
McFadden School of Excellence
Oakland High School
Oakland Middle School
Plainview Elementary School
Poplar Hill Elementary School
Riverdale High School
Rockvale Elementary School
Rockvale High School
Rockvale Middle School
Rocky Fork Elementary School
Rocky Fork Middle School
Siegel High School
Smyrna Elementary School
Smyrna High School
Smyrna Middle School
Stewarts Creek Elementary School
Stewarts Creek High School
Stewarts Creek Middle School
Stewartsboro Elementary School
Thurman Francis Arts Academy
Walter Hill Elementary School
Whitworth-Buchanan Middle School
Wilson Elementary School