CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Clarksville Montgomery County School System, which has a long history of excellence, continues to rank among the top school districts in Tennessee.

According to Niche, a Pennsylvania-based school ranking and review site, CMCSS ranks in the top 25 of the 147 districts in the state.

But most of those high-performing districts have only a few thousand students. When looking only at districts with more than 10,000 students, CMCSS is the fifth-best.

Top performing school systems with more than 10,000 students, 2022:

• #3: Williamson, 39,817 students
• #12: Sumner, 29,588 students
• #14: Wilson, 18,444 students
• #15: Rutherford 47,186 students
• #23: Clarksville-Montgomery 36,426 students
• #25: Knox, 59,169 students

Other education websites rank the district highly in standardized testing scores. According to Public School Review, CMCSS ranks sixth statewide – out of 147 districts – in test scores and has one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in Tennessee.

According to the Public School Review analysis, the district’s average math proficiency scores are at 45%, compared to the state average of 39%. The district’s reading scores are 41%, compared to the statewide average of 35%.

This year’s focus

Anthony Johnson, CMCSS spokesperson, said the new schools director, Jean Luna-Vedder, has been clear about her focus to ensure CMCSS is the best in the state both to attend as a student and work as an employee.

“As we have kicked off the school year, meeting with faculty and staff from all 45 schools over the past few days, Dr. Luna-Vedder has acknowledged the challenges,” Johnson said. “However, she has motivated employees to reflect on the difference they can make every day and what kind of difference they want to make for our students and community. At each visit, CMCSS leaders have seen the optimism, enthusiasm and energy from faculty and staff to make this the best school year as we focus on being better than ever, together.”

Safety and communication

Several new programs have been implemented this year.

Included in the 2022-23 budget, the district has additional social workers, school counselors and psychologists, as well as additional support for the district’s Alternative School and other student support programs as they address the escalating behavior problems observed over the past few years.

“Additionally, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has added seven additional SROs to its budget. Consistently in our messaging to families this year, we have reiterated the importance of having conversations with students about appropriate behaviors and school safety,” Johnson said.

CMCSS also launched its School Safety Hub this year to provide families with important information about CMCSS’s safety and security measures.

One of the strategic work goals of the district this year is to promote parent and community engagement.

“Research indicates that parent and family engagement is a significant factor in student success. When families, communities and schools work together, it can lead to positive student outcomes, including improved student achievement; decreased disciplinary issues; increased attendance; improved student, teacher and parent relationships; and improved school environments,” he said. “This year, there will be a focus on providing resources, training and support to improve the consistency and quality of family and community engagement opportunities for each of our unique school communities.”

Johnson said administrators will pilot a new family engagement framework with select schools at each level to develop toolkits, share best practices and improve collaboration.

Attracting, retaining teachers

Also this year, the Teacher Residency Program has continued to grow and expand. “The district is proud to have the first registered teacher apprenticeship approved by the U.S. Department of Labor in the country,” he said.

“We currently have 155 teacher residents in CMCSS. There are over 80 current teachers who have completed a Teacher Residency Program and are now certified and have their own classroom.”

CMCSS is also working to improve its teacher retention rates. “One of the strategies CMCSS is implementing this school year is a partnership with Upbeat, a teacher retention organization led by former teachers and school leaders,” Johnson said. “Upbeat will administer comprehensive, research-based surveys to certified and classified staff to measure growth in research-based categories that impact teacher retention, including school climate, hiring and onboarding, professional development, and teacher appreciation.”

Johnson said Upbeat will also provide CMCSS with exit surveys and analysis into why teachers are leaving the district so leaders can address specific retention issues.

New facilities

CMCSS this year opened the doors to a new school, and more schools are coming.

“To address continued growth, Kirkwood Middle School has opened this school year with around 1,000 students and 90 employees,” Johnson said. “Kirkwood High School is currently under construction and is projected to open next August, followed by Kirkwood Elementary School.”