Hamilton County Schools have reported a slight improvement in the ACT scores for their students, according to recent data from the Tennessee Department of Education. The average composite ACT score for the district’s class of 2025 increased to 18.9, up from 18.7 the previous year. Despite this uptick, Hamilton County students continue to score below both state and national averages, which remain at 19.3 and 19.4, respectively.
The ACT is scored on a scale of 1 to 36, with a composite score representing the average of four sections: English, math, reading, and science. A score of 21 is considered indicative of college readiness in Tennessee. Within Hamilton County, 36.8% of students in the class of 2025 achieved a composite score of 21 or higher; however, over 53% scored below 19.
Nine high schools in the district reported average ACT scores of 21 or higher, and nearly half of all county schools surpassed the state’s composite average. Notably, Lookout Valley Middle/High and Signal Mountain Middle/High both saw their average scores increase by more than a point compared to last year.
Superintendent Justin Robertson praised the efforts of both students and educators, highlighting the hard work and resilience demonstrated throughout the year. He expressed particular pride in the progress seen among students with disabilities, noting that the percentage of these students achieving a score of 21 or higher rose by 8 points. Their average composite score also improved, reaching 16.2, surpassing the statewide average for the same demographic.
Conversely, English learners and economically disadvantaged students in Hamilton County recorded the lowest average composite scores, at 13.6 and 16.1, respectively, though both of these figures also saw a slight increase from the year before.
Blake Freeman, the Chief Academic Officer, emphasized the importance of closing achievement gaps between different demographic groups. The district’s strategic plan aims to ensure all students have access to core, grade-level curricula. Freeman highlighted their commitment to promoting growth in reading, writing, and critical thinking skills while providing effective gap closure strategies. He expressed optimism that these initiatives would continue to foster progress reflected in ACT scores and other measures of student success.
In neighboring Southeast Tennessee, three other school districts—Meigs County Schools, Sequatchie County Schools, and Tullahoma City Schools—reported ACT scores that exceeded the state average. Tullahoma City Schools achieved the highest score in the region with an average composite of 19.9, while Bledsoe County Schools made significant gains, seeing their average composite score rise by two points to 19.1.
