Half of respondents to a survey of influential Chattanoogans this week are not confident that Hamilton County students are making sufficient academic progress as Tennessee and the nation struggle to face down the coronavirus pandemic.
The Nashville-based Power Poll, a private nonpartisan group founded by a former journalist, surveys influential residents of 19 cities, mostly in the Southeast. The most recent survey, conducted Monday through Thursday, was sent to 145 Chattanoogans, and 78 replied, for a response rate of 54%.
The survey asked, “How confident are you that Hamilton County students are making sufficient academic progress?”
Half said they are not confident; another 14% said they are confident, while just over a third – 35% – said they are unsure. One percent said they are very confident.
Hamilton County Schools students wrapped up this semester in a virtual-only learning format, given the county’s increasing cases of COVID-19. At this time, district officials said they plan to welcome students back to school in January and expect a little more than 7,200 students who had opted for online learning in the fall semester to return to school in person.