Alabama students made measurable gains in reading and showed signs of improvement in math during the 2024–25 school year, according to statewide test results presented at the State Board of Education’s July 9 work session. State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey said the progress reflects the ongoing efforts of teachers and schools, while acknowledging the persistent challenges in middle school math.
The results are from the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP), administered in the spring of 2025. Students in grades two through eight were tested in English Language Arts (ELA) and math, with science tested in grades four, six, and eight. High school juniors also took the ACT with writing, which Alabama currently uses for accountability purposes.
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Mackey told board members that reading proficiency improved in every tested grade, with fewer students scoring at Level 1 — the lowest performance category — and more students reaching proficiency levels. According to the Alabama Political Reporter, second-grade students in Level 1 dropped by about one percentage point compared to the previous year, while fourth-grade students saw a three-point drop. Across all grades, the proportion of students considered proficient increased, which Mackey attributed to targeted interventions, updated instructional materials, and professional development for teachers.
“We’re seeing the investments we’ve made pay off, particularly in the early grades,” Mackey told the board, as reported by Alabama Daily News.
Math scores showed some positive trends, particularly among the state’s lowest-performing students. The number of students scoring at Level 1 declined in nearly all grades, though overall proficiency gains were modest. In seventh grade, proficiency rates remained unchanged at about 19%, and in eighth grade, the proportion of students in Level 1 rose slightly — a pattern Mackey suggested may be influenced by advanced students taking Algebra I, which is not aligned with the eighth-grade test.
As students progress to higher grades, proficiency tends to drop, especially in math. Approximately half of second- and third-grade students tested proficient in math, compared to just over a quarter of students in seventh and eighth grades, according to Alabama Daily News.
Science scores were mixed. Sixth- and eighth-grade students showed improvement, while fourth grade held steady and 11th grade saw a slight decline. Mackey noted that improved reading comprehension likely contributed to the gains in science, which often requires understanding dense, content-heavy texts.
On the ACT, which Alabama currently requires for all high school juniors, English Language Arts proficiency edged upward slightly, while math remained flat and science dipped. The state’s average composite score declined marginally from 17.4 to 17.3. Mackey said the state is reviewing whether to continue using the ACT as its high school accountability test in future years.
The state’s English learner (EL) population continues to grow, rising from about 41,000 students in 2022 to nearly 51,000 in 2025. Teachers face the added challenge of teaching English while also covering core academic subjects. The percentage of English learners meeting exit criteria from language support programs improved slightly to 5.3%, up from 4.6% the prior year. Mackey said enrollment in EL programs is expected to reach 55,000 by 2026.
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He stressed the importance of keeping the current assessment system stable, noting that frequent changes in testing over the past decade have made it difficult to measure long-term trends. Mackey encouraged the board to maintain the current ACAP for at least several more years to give schools and families a clearer picture of student progress over time.
District and school level data are expected to be released in August after local verification is complete.
Mackey called the overall picture “more positive than negative,” emphasizing that while work remains to be done, Alabama schools are moving in the right direction.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
