BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama’s statewide third-grade reading scores were nearly unchanged this spring, but newly released district-level results show wide variation across the state, with some school systems posting large gains and others losing ground.
The results, released Thursday by the Alabama State Department of Education, offer the first local look at how districts performed this year on the state reading test tied to the Alabama Literacy Act.
The reading test, part of the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program, or ACAP spring testing program, is one way students can show they are reading well enough to move on to fourth grade.
The percentage of students meeting the benchmark this year – 88.2% – is essentially unchanged from last year, when 88.4% of third graders met the same benchmark.
The 6,467 third graders who didn’t meet the benchmark on the spring reading test were invited to summer reading camps, which are already underway.
Struggling readers are not required to attend the camps, even though districts are required to offer them. Districts are also required to make sure summer reading instruction is provided by teachers with strong reading instruction skills.
Students who fall short can still be promoted if they pass a retest, demonstrate grade-level reading through a portfolio or qualify for a good-cause exemption.
What do district-level results show?
The district results show that the statewide number masks significant variation. The results also show that poverty alone does not explain district performance.
Several districts with higher poverty rates posted scores at or above the state average, while some districts with lower poverty rates lost ground.
Some districts improved by five percentage points or more, while others saw double-digit declines.
Three districts had 99% of third-graders reach the benchmark score: Mountain Brook City, Vestavia Hills City and Brewton City.
Another four school districts had 98% of third-graders reach the benchmark score: Piedmont City, Saraland City, University Charter School and Muscle Shoals City.
Eight school districts saw improvements of five percentage points or more:
-Fairfield City – 13.3 point gain, 87% at or above benchmark
-Elba City – 9.7 point gain, 97% at or above benchmark
-Marengo County – 7.3 point gain, 97% at or above benchmark
-Sheffield City – 7 point gain, 88% at or above benchmark
-Sylacauga City – 6.3 point gain, 90% at or above benchmark
-Anniston City – 5.8 point gain, 85% at or above benchmark
-Alexander City – 5.4 point gain, 92% at or above benchmark
-Pickens County – 5.1 point gain, 94% at or above benchmark
Two school districts saw a decline in students reaching the cut score of 10 percentage points or more:
-Choctaw County – 10.9 point decline, 75% at or above benchmark
-Selma City – 10.2 point decline, 80% at or above benchmark
The table below shows each district’s percentage of third graders who reached that year’s benchmark score, along with the district’s poverty rate for the 2025-26 school year. Click here if you’re unable to see the table.