Alabama Schools Show Academic Progress
During the 2024 academic year, Alabama public schools have shown noticeable improvements in areas like third-grade reading proficiency, graduation rates, and overall university and career preparedness. State education officials suggest that recent investments and educational reforms are contributing to this progress, even though some districts still face significant achievement gaps.
Recent data from the Alabama Department of Education indicates that 88.4% of third-grade students who participated in the state’s evaluation achieved grade-level proficiency on the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP) Reading Test administered in Spring 2025. This improvement comes despite the national increase in the minimum passing score, which moved from 435 to 444. It’s all part of a broader initiative aimed at aligning local student performance with national standards.
While this percentage seems lower than last year’s 91%, Dr. Eric McKee pointed out that if you apply the new cut score retrospectively to last year’s data, about 86.3% of students would still qualify for promotion under the revised criteria. This suggests that the current results reflect a tangible step forward.
Several schools performed particularly well in reading. Remarkably, eleven schools reported that all their second and third graders read at or above grade level. Some of these standout institutions include:
- Princeton School (Birmingham City)
- Freetassour (Covington County)
- Kilby Institute (Florence City)
- Eura Brown Elementary School (Gadsden City)
- Monte Sano Elementary School (Huntsville)
- Eicold Mertz School of Mathematics and Science (Mobile County)
- WH Council Traditional Schools (Mobile County)
- Bear Exploration Center, Forest Avenue Elementary School, McMillan International School (Montgomery County)
- Chatom Elementary School (Washington County)
The school districts of Satsuma City and Orange Beach also reported that all of their third graders met reading proficiency standards, despite having fewer than 120 students in those grades.
Alabama’s overall graduation rate for the class of 2024 hit 91%, matching the highest rate the state has seen since 2019. This is particularly noteworthy considering that rates had dipped during the pandemic but have since rebounded.
In a further positive development, 87% of graduates in 2024 earned at least one university and career readiness (CCR) indicator, setting a new state record. CCR indicators serve as benchmarks for student preparedness for life after high school. These include qualifying scores, completion of dual enrollment credits, acquisition of industry-recognized credentials, enlistment in the military, or completion of a career technical education program.
The gap between graduates and those who achieved CCR indicators has narrowed to just 4%, the smallest difference since these measurements began. Starting with the class of 2026, students will need to meet at least one CCR benchmark to qualify for graduation.
Although the overall trends are encouraging, significant disparities remain within certain districts. While some areas have shown improvement, specific districts like Lanette City and Sumter County reported that only 66% of third graders met reading benchmarks, placing them among the lowest performers in the state.
Officials have noted that various factors contribute to these discrepancies, including school leadership, teacher retention rates, access to quality curricula, and overall attendance. Even though Alabama has one of the country’s lowest rates of chronic absenteeism, many students still miss a substantial number of school days—which can be a hurdle to improving educational outcomes.
Students scoring just above the minimum passing score have been identified for closer monitoring, as their performance may suggest they are at risk of falling behind later on.
Education authorities emphasize that sustained progress depends on bridging these gaps while continuing to uphold high educational standards. The next planned increase in the ACAP Reading Cut Score is set for Spring 2027, with further aims to enhance literacy and educational outcomes across Alabama.
More detailed school performance data from local districts is expected to be released in the following weeks. You can view the Alabama Department of Education’s ACAP report for further insights.
