Tennessee · Education
High School Graduation Rate in Tennessee
Share of 9th-graders who earn a regular diploma within four years, adjusted for students who transfer in or out.
90% in 2022
#2 of 48 · Top tier (higher is better)
Tennessee is better than the 50-state median (87%). That's a gap of 3.9%.
View interactive chart & trend → See full 50-state ranking →
2011 – 2022 · Tennessee only · interactive chart with US median overlay →
About high school graduation rate
What this measures: Share of 9th-graders who earn a regular diploma within four years, adjusted for transfers in and out.
Why it matters: On-time graduation is a key checkpoint, predicting earnings, civic engagement, and reduced incarceration risk.
Watch out: Measures on-time diplomas, not learning. A high graduation rate can coexist with weak college readiness.
Recent trend
| Year | Tennessee | US median |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 86% | 83% |
| 2014 | 87% | 84% |
| 2015 | 88% | 85% |
| 2016 | 89% | 86% |
| 2017 | 90% | 86% |
| 2018 | 90% | 86% |
| 2019 | 91% | 87% |
| 2020 | 90% | 87% |
| 2021 | 89% | 86% |
| 2022 | 90% | 87% |
Tennessee vs. neighboring states
Same metric (high school graduation rate), latest year with full state coverage. Click any name for that state's full report.
| State | High School Graduation Rate | National rank |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 90% | #4 of 48 |
| Virginia | 89% | #10 of 48 |
| North Carolina | 86% | #25 of 48 |
| Georgia | 84% | #33 of 48 |
| Alabama | 88% | #13 of 48 |
| Mississippi | 89% | #12 of 48 |
How Tennessee compares (2022)
Top 5 best
| #1 | West Virginia | 91% |
| #2 | Tennessee | 90% |
| #3 | Wisconsin | 90% |
| #4 | Kentucky | 90% |
| #5 | Massachusetts | 90% |
Source and methodology
Source: NCES · Direction: higher is better · Unit: %
Download raw CSV (all 50 states, all years)