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Tennessee teacher retention has improved since 2023-24 low, but remains short of earlier levels
Teacher retention in Tennessee public schools has risen from a low point in 2023-24, a review of state data found. Rates have not returned to the higher, steadier levels seen in earlier years.
Tennessee public schools have improved their teacher retention rates since a low in the 2023-24 school year, but have yet to regain the higher and more consistent rates recorded in prior years, according to an analysis of state education data published Oct. 23, 2026.
The figures track how well schools retain teachers over time. The recent increase marks a recovery from the low point, while the remaining gap shows that retention has not returned to its earlier pattern.
Teacher retention affects whether schools can maintain continuity in classrooms and staffing. The state data offers a way to compare that trend across school years, though the reported statewide finding does not identify the causes of the decline or recovery.