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Nation’s report card shows gains for Alabama

Alabama fourth-graders saw record-breaking gains in Math on the National Assessment for Education Progress results released today, while their reading scores and eighth-grade results on the test known as the nation’s report card remain a challenge.

Fourth grade math excelled

Alabama’s fourth graders made remarkable progress in math, leading the nation with the largest average score increase from 2019 to 2024. The state’s ranking jumped from 40th two years ago to 32nd – its highest ever – after being dead last in 2019. This year’s results also brought Alabama within a single point of the national average in both fourth-grade math and reading, a milestone long out of reach. 

Growth among economically disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged fourth grade students stood out. Both groups led the nation in point growth, with Alabama’s non-disadvantaged fourth graders average score ranking fourth nationally, behind only Georgia, Massachusetts and Mississippi.

State Superintendent Eric Mackey attributed the gains to focused strategies in early grades.

“What these scores show us in fourth grade math and reading, is that we really are adopting the right strategy,” Mackey told Alabama Daily News. “We’re on the right path.” 

He emphasized the need to keep the pushing on the gas pedal and to not lose momentum.  

Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, is chairman of the Senate education budget committee and praised the results this morning.

“These improved scores that run counter to the national trend show the positive impact of our recent legislative efforts but more importantly the efforts of our classroom teachers and instructional coaches in public schools across Alabama,” said Orr, who is 2022 sponsored the Alabama Numeracy Act, to put more focus on math education in early grades. 

“We’ve spent hundreds of millions of dollars over the last few years addressing early grade literacy and math and the investment is paying off but we must keep pushing.”

Fourth grade reading stagnant but promising

Reading scores for fourth graders remained flat, dropping by a tenth of a point from 2022 to 2024. Statistically they were unchanged. However, Alabama is still one of only two states where fourth grade reading scores are higher than pre-pandemic levels of 2019. 

The state’s rank rose from 39th in 2022 to 34th in 2024, 10 spots higher than where the state was in 2019. While progress is stubbornly slow score-wise, the movement among states offers hope for continued improvement.

Eighth grade, a persistent challenge

Alabama’s eighth graders continue to struggle in both math and reading, with scores placing the state near the bottom nationally. Math results dropped slightly, ranking Alabama 49th among states and territories. Reading scores hit their lowest level ever, though the state improved its ranking slightly from 49th to 47th.

One bright spot emerged: Non-economically disadvantaged students were second in the nation in point growth from 2022 to 2024 in math, with a seven-point gain. That made Alabama the only state that surpassed their 2019 score.

Mackey said he is worried about chronically low eighth-grade results, questioning whether current math and reading standards are rigorous enough and align with what NAEP expects eighth graders to know. But it goes beyond standards, he said.

 “We’ve got to put some real investment, long term, in middle school,” he said. “There are too many kids in middle school classrooms and we’ve got to get smaller classes. We’ve got to focus on building relationships with those kids cause it’s such a difficult time anyway.” 

Teachers are part of the equation, too.

“We really want to offer much more high quality professional development for those middle grade teachers,” he said.

“We can’t do everything at one time, but  we are long term going to have to really rethink what middle grade education looks like,” Mackey said.

What to know about NAEP scores and rankings 

The NAEP, given every other year since 2003, is the only test given across all states. The pandemic delayed the 2021 test until 2022, but it’s back on a two-year schedule. 

NAEP tests reading and math skills in fourth and eighth grade. A statistically valid sample of Alabama students take the digital test in early spring.

Test results are shared in various ways, including average scores, proficiency levels and percentile performance. Small differences in scores can lead to significant shifts in rankings, given the tight spread between states.

Orr said the state made gains in reading similar to the most recent math scores nearly 20 years ago under Gov. Bob Riley, but then lost momentum when funding became scarce during the Great Recession.

“I’m confident that as this fourth grade cohort advances on to the eighth grade, the gains made at that level will radically change in due time,” Orr said.

Test results have grown in importance in Alabama over the years. They’ve been used in some industries eyeing where to build new manufacturing plants or set up new operations, with higher-scoring states viewed as more likely to produce a stronger workforce. 

Alabama’s scores have been a legislative focus since former Gov. Robert Bentley declared the state’s education system “sucks” in 2016, pointing to bottom of the barrel rankings as evidence. 

Nationally, NAEP scores have been in decline, with the pandemic adding another blow. 

Looking ahead

While gains in fourth grade math are cause for celebration, Mackey emphasized the need for continued effort and investment to ensure all students are on a path to success. 

“We’re getting there,” Mackey said. “We’re not where we want to be but we are making remarkable progress.” 

The chart below shows Alabama’s NAEP scale scores over time compared to the national public school average scale score. Use the dropdown menu to choose which grade and subject area to view.

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