Metro Nashville Public Schools hits record graduation rate

Metro Nashville Public Schools announced on Thursday that 86.4% of students in its 2026 four-year cohort earned a high school diploma. The district stated in a news release that this figure marks the highest graduation rate in its history.

The new rate is 2.8 percentage points higher than the 2025 figure and surpasses the previous record of 85.7% set in 2024. District officials noted that the three highest graduation rates in the system have occurred during the last three years. For comparison, the graduation rate stood at 68.8% in 2006, meaning the rate has increased by 17.6 percentage points over two decades.

Two high schools showed the largest gains between 2025 and 2026. Maplewood High School saw its rate rise from 71.2% to 88.3%, an increase of 17.1 percentage points. Glencliff High School moved from 61.5% to 80.8%, a jump of 19.3 percentage points.

The district attributed Maplewood's improvement to a practice led by Principal Sonya Brooks. Her staff meets individually with seniors at least once a month to identify academic and personal needs. The process begins before senior year, with counselors and educators helping students set goals for life after high school.

Glencliff employs a different strategy by pairing every student with a dedicated staff member for all four years of high school. The district said this model emphasizes academic accountability and helps students create plans for college, career, or military service.

Metro Nashville Public Schools also reported earning a Level 5 academic growth designation for four consecutive years. This is the highest rating in Tennessee’s state accountability system. The district said it has expanded opportunities for students to earn college credits, industry certifications, and other credentials before they graduate.

The district describes this framework as

Every Student Known,