Alabama shows improvement in national school report card
Gov. Kay Ivey announces results of the NAEP report on Alabama schools in Prattville, Wednesday, January 29, 2025 – Photo from Office of Gov. Kay Ivey
A national school report card shows Alabama made significant improvements in 4th grade test scores, but performance among 8th grade students wasn’t as large.
Today, Gov. Kay Ivey announced that Alabama’s rank in 4th grade math moved up from 52nd in the country to 32nd. Alabama’s rank in 4th grade reading moved from 49th to 34th during her term.
The results are from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which is also known as “America’s Report Card.”
The reason that there are 52 rankings is because they include Washington, DC, and schools operated by the Department of Defense for military families.
Results show that in 4th grade math, Alabama climbed to 32nd in 2024, from a low point of 52nd in 2019, the last NAEP administered before the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted many schools. Alabama’s 6-point scale score increase was the largest increase in the nation in 4th grade math.
The Governor’s Office says Alabama’s gains in COVID recovery comparisons surpass those of every other state. This places Alabama among five states to show recovery to pre-COVID levels in 4th grade math.
Alabama’s place in 4th grade reading moved to 34th in 2024, up from 49th in 2019. Alabama is one of only two states to exceed pre-COVID levels in 4th grade reading.
Alabama’s ranking in 8th grade reading rose from 49th in 2019 to 47th in 2024. In 8th grade math, Alabama improved from 52nd in 2019 to 49th in 2024.
“Absolutely, there is still a lot of work to do,” State School Superintendent Eric Mackey said.
“Focusing on middle school progress is a major concern. Just this year, the Legislature responded to our request to fund a new middle grades initiative focused on our struggling readers. We have asked for increased funding to expand that effort in 2025-2026, and we will also be reviewing middle-level math to see what we need to adjust. However, we are incrementally heading in the right direction in many areas,” Mackey said. ”
Alabama students with special needs saw substantial growth in 4th grade math and reading. These students have seen consistent growth in math since 2019, with scale scores increasing from 196 in 2019, to 212 in 2024 (exceeding the national average). In reading, our students with disabilities moved up 12 points on their scale score, from 164 in 2019 to 176 in 2024.
Nationally, students continue to struggle to get back to pre-COVID levels on scale scores in 4th and 8th grade reading, and 4th and 8th grade math. In 4th grade reading, the nation is down five points from 219 in 2019 to 214 in 2024. In 8th grade reading, the nation is down from 262 in 2019 to 257 in 2024.
Nationally 8th grade math is down from 281 in 2019 to 272 in 2024. Nationally, 4th grade math went from 240 in 2019 to 237 in 2024.
— Information from the office of Gov. Kay Ivey
