Statewide Student Assessment Results in Alabama
Alabama students showed notable improvements in reading and mathematics during the 2024-25 academic year, as per the test outcomes shared during the state board of education’s meeting on July 9. Dr. Eric McKee highlighted that these results reflect the dedicated work of teachers and schools, although he acknowledged persistent challenges in middle school mathematics.
The data comes from the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP) conducted in the spring of 2025, covering students from grades 2 to 8 in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. Science assessments were carried out for grades 4, 6, and 8, while high school juniors participated in the ACT with writing, a measure currently used for accountability.
McKee informed board members that reading proficiency improved across all tested grades, with fewer students landing in Level 1, which is the lowest performance tier. He noted that while second graders showed a minor decline of about 1 percentage point from the previous year, fourth graders experienced a drop of about 3 points. Overall, more students reached proficient levels, attributed to targeted interventions, updated materials, and teacher development.
“We’re noticing the results of our investments, especially in early education,” McKee remarked to the board.
In terms of mathematics, there were some encouraging trends among the lowest-performing students. The number of students scoring at Level 1 decreased in nearly all grade levels, although the overall proficiency growth was fairly modest. For instance, 7th-grade proficiency rates stayed around 19%, while there was a slight increase in Level 1 students among 8th graders.
As students advance through grades, proficiency in mathematics tends to drop. About half of students in the second and third grades demonstrated proficiency, contrasting with over a quarter in the seventh and eighth grades.
Science scores were mixed: 6th and 8th graders improved, while fourth graders remained stable, and 11th graders saw a slight decline. McKee pointed out that better reading comprehension probably aided scientific understanding.
New laws now mandate that all high school juniors display increased proficiency in ELA, although mathematics scores have plateaued, and there was a decline in science. The state’s average composite ACT score dipped from 17.4 to 17.3. McKee mentioned that the state is contemplating the future of this law regarding accountability testing for high schools.
Alabama’s English Learner (EL) population grew significantly, rising from about 41,000 students in 2022 to nearly 51,000 in 2025. The percentage of English learners meeting exit criteria from language support programs improved slightly from 4.6% the prior year, with projections estimating 55,000 enrollments in the EL program by 2026.
McKee stressed the need for a stable rating system, noting that the frequent changes in testing over the last decade hinder long-term trend measurements. He advised the board to keep the current ACAP in place for a few more years to provide families and schools with a clearer view of student progress over time.
District and school-level data will be available in August following regional verification.
McKee maintained that the overall outlook is “more positive than negative,” reiterating that Alabama schools are progressing, though there’s still work ahead.
