More Nashville public schools rank in bottom 5 percent, according to state data

Jason Gonzales:

The 21 schools represent an increase over previous years in the number of schools in the bottom 5 percent statewide in terms of academics.

While the 2017 Cusp list isn’t a clear indication of the number of Nashville schools that will be on the state’s fall 2018 Priority school list, it does present a stark warning of what could come.

The Priority list is issued every three years. It details the bottom 5 percent of schools in academic performance over several years and has legal implications for districts.

The Tennessee Department of Education Cusp list, obtained by the USA TODAY NETWORK — Tennessee, was released to school districts in October to help flag academic issues ahead of the state’s official Priority list.

Metro Nashville Public Schools officials say they are working to address academic deficiencies at its schools since receiving the one-year list.

In 2014, Metro Schools had 14 schools on the Priority school list. One of those schools has since been converted to a pre-kindergarten center. The other was taken over by the Achievement School District.