The data indicates that schools in Birmingham City are making progress in key areas, but there’s still a significant amount of work required to reach the district’s aspiration of leading in public education and ensuring global student success.
Currently, the district holds a “C” grade in the 2023–2024 Alabama Department of Education Report Card. The aim is to improve these grades and boost student achievement by 2029. Notably, seven schools received “F” grades this year, underscoring the pressing need for ongoing improvement.
The schools that fall into this category are:
To tackle these issues, the Birmingham City Schools (BCS) are implementing a comprehensive strategic plan for 2024–2029, which outlines a five-year roadmap with five priority areas: academic achievement, student well-being, staff effectiveness, customer service, and district accountability and cohesion.
Some key initiatives in this plan include:
Academic Achievement:
The district’s goal is to enhance early literacy and math skills, close achievement gaps for students with disabilities and English learners, and adequately prepare middle and high school students for further education and careers.Student Happiness:
Focus points include reducing chronic absenteeism, providing social and emotional support, and ensuring students feel secure, valued, and included in the school environment.Staff Effectiveness:
BCS aims to boost teacher retention and recruitment by hiring dedicated, quality educators to foster academic excellence.Customer Service:
Improving communication with families and community partners is essential. The district wants to enhance parental involvement and satisfaction through clearer messaging and consistent outreach efforts.District Accountability and Cohesion:
Key strategies include leadership development, streamlining operations, and ensuring greater consistency across schools to establish a stronger foundation throughout the district.
The strategic plan also emphasizes critical challenges, like declining enrollment, an ongoing achievement gap despite high spending per student, and persistent teacher turnover. Socioeconomic factors remain significant, with 87% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunches and about 1,700 students facing homelessness.
District leaders are dedicated to assessing progress through data-driven benchmarks, regular feedback from the community, and consistent monitoring of academic performance using tools like I-response assessments and ACAP testing.
The complete 2024–2029 Strategic Plan is accessible for viewing here.
