Birmingham, Ala. – Positive Progress Amid Challenges in Alabama School Report Cards
Alabama schools are celebrating improvements in the recently released K-12 state report cards, with 802 schools enhancing their scores. Noteworthy highlights include some schools achieving significant gains, with three schools, including Birmingham’s Legacy Prep and i3 Academy, elevating their status from ‘F’ to ‘C’ through score jumps of 24 and 23 points, respectively. However, the data also raises concerns, particularly for high schools and disadvantaged student groups.
While the majority of schools saw upward movement, 378 experienced declines, with two schools, J.F. Shields High School and Wilkerson Middle School, dropping dramatically from ‘C’ to ‘F’. Statewide, 72 schools improved from a ‘B’ to an ‘A’, celebrating successes on social media platforms. For instance, Springville High Principal Greg Moore proudly shared their milestone on X, formerly Twitter.
Among 151 districts, 11 achieved ‘A’ ratings for all schools, including Mountain Brook City and Westlawn Middle School, marking historic transitions to higher grades. Lower levels of student poverty are linked to these successes, though challenges remain in high-poverty areas where resources and support are critical.
Disparities continue to persist among student groups based on race and economic status, with students with disabilities scoring the lowest. Educational authorities are exploring making the ACT optional for high school students and possibly developing a new assessment aligned with Alabama’s academic standards.
As schools strive for educational equity, further efforts are needed to close the achievement gaps, particularly among African American and economically disadvantaged students, who face chronic absenteeism and lower overall performance. Despite these challenges, the data reflects a commendable effort towards improvement within Alabama’s educational landscape.
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Photo credit aldailynews.com
