The Basics:

  • Each dot represents an elementary or intermediate school.
  • Dots to the right have higher average per-pupil expenditures
  • Dots toward the top have higher yearly achievement growth as measured by the Tennessee Value Added Assessment System (TVAAS)
  • If the ‘Economically Disadvantaged’ box is checked, red districts are those with 70% or higher economically disadvantaged students


Reading the Scales
 The numbers along the bottom margin of the chart (x-axis) represent district per-pupil spending in thousands of dollars as reported in the 2009 Tennessee school report card. The state average expenditure per pupil is $8,518.

The numbers along the left hand margin of the chart (y-axis) are TVAAS Academic Growth scores expressed as NCE scores. A score of 3, for example, would mean that the 3-year average achievement growth of students in this district is about 3 NCE units greater than the average achievement growth statewide in 2009 (the state's newly established baseline year). Attending schools in a district with an NCE score of +3 for an entire K-12 career would result in a cumulatively greater level of academic achievement than would be expected from attendance at an average school.

Observable Findings

  • There is virtually no relationship between district per-pupil spending levels and value-added achievement gains.
  • There are substantial differences in the year-to-year student achievement growth among Tennessee's school districts.
  • There are substantial differences in student achievement growth between districts that have roughly the same per-pupil spending levels.
  • All of the large districts (Memphis, Davidson County/Nashville, Knox County, Knoxville, & Hamilton County, Chattanooga) have above-average expenditures, but Knox County spends thousands less per-pupil than Davidson County or Memphis and produces greater student achievement growth. Several of the lower spending districts are independent entities that have only a few elementary schools and no high school, thus their per-pupil spending is inherently lower.