Rising Test Scores Reflect Progress in Alabama Schools

As the new academic year begins, Huntsville City Schools is making strides with Superintendent Clarence Sutton leading the way. Amid previous concerns about grade inflation during the pandemic, Sutton emphasizes a renewed focus on progress and teacher autonomy. “We place our trust in our teachers,” Sutton stated following the district’s board meeting on July 30. “While the past is behind us, we are confident in our current system, where teachers input grades that stand as they are. We are focused on moving forward.”

Recent data from the Alabama Department of Education reveals a positive trend across the state's public schools, with student test scores improving in English language arts, math, and science according to the 2024 results. Though not all grade levels saw an increase, the overall proficiency across all grades has risen.

District-Level Performance: A Mixed Bag

The statewide trend is encouraging, yet district performance varies significantly. Among Alabama’s 150 traditional and charter school districts, most have made strides in all subjects, with some districts showcasing remarkable improvements for low-income students.

Specifically, 19 districts achieved a 10-percentage-point or higher increase in English language arts proficiency among low-income students, 16 districts did the same in science, and six districts saw similar gains in math. However, the disparity between districts is stark, particularly in high-poverty areas, where achieving high proficiency levels remains challenging.

For instance, English language arts proficiency ranges from a low of 19.7% in Greene County schools, where 90% of students live in poverty, to a high of 86% in Mountain Brook City schools, where only 3% of students are in poverty. The gap is even wider in math, with proficiency rates as low as 2% in some charter schools, such as Empower Community School in Bessemer, compared to 79% in Mountain Brook.

Understanding the ACAP and Its Implications

The Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP) encompasses various tests administered to students during their public school years. The ACAP summative assessments cover math and English language arts for grades 2 through 8 and science for grades 4, 6, and 8. While second-grade results are not publicly reported, they contribute to growth scores that appear in report cards released later in the fall.

Students are categorized into four levels based on their ACAP results: Level 1 indicates below grade level, Level 2 is low grade level, Level 3 is proficient, and Level 4 means the student has mastered the academic standards. Proficiency, defined by achieving Levels 3 or 4, is distinct from grade level, which represents a higher benchmark. According to State Superintendent Eric Mackey, students reaching proficiency are those expected to earn A's or B's, while grade-level performance is a broader measure.

Additionally, students with differing abilities who take an alternate assessment are included in these results. High school juniors take the ACT with writing, which contributes to overall proficiency levels, while tenth graders take the pre-ACT, serving as a metric for academic growth from tenth to 11th grade.