Just one school district in Alabama got all third graders reading successfully enough to hit an important benchmark.
Orange Beach City, which has just one elementary school, had all of its third graders pass the test. Most school districts in the state saw improvements in third grade reading scores, according to data released Thursday, but results also indicate that a lot of schools and students have more work to do. Scroll down to see school- and district-level data.
The results are high-stakes for students and teachers: If students who are behind on reading can’t make up lost ground over the summer, they may have to repeat third grade.
Alabama has set a benchmark score of 435 on the reading test. Students who didn’t reach 435 were invited to attend a summer reading camp and test again in June or July. They can also ask for a good cause exemption.
Statewide, 4,800 third graders did not reach the benchmark and may be at risk of retention. Among second graders, 9,700 students did not reach the benchmark for that grade.
District-level third grade results
All but seven of Alabama’s traditional school districts improved their third grade passing percentages, many by double digits. All six public charter schools improved their percentages by double digits.
As with most achievement test scores, the more affluent the district’s families, the more likely children were to pass the test.
There are exceptions, like Crenshaw County, where 7 in 10 students are in poverty, yet 98% of third graders reached the benchmark.
Sixteen of the 99 school districts where at least nine out of every 10 students reached the benchmark were districts where 75% or more of students districtwide are in poverty.
The range of students hitting the benchmark was slimmer than last year. On the low end, Midfield City in the Birmingham metro area had 71% of third graders pass the test, and on the high end was Orange Beach’s 100% - a 29-percentage-point spread.
In 2023, that spread was 56 percentage points.
Ninety-five of Alabama’s 139 traditional districts had 90% or more of their third graders pass the test.
Twelve school districts improved their third grade passing rates by more than 20 percentage points. Students in each district are majority-Black and are considered high-poverty districts.
- Perry County - improved by 37 percentage points, from 53% to 90%,
- Greene County - improved by 32 percentage points, from 58% to 90%,
- Barbour County - improved by 28 percentage points, from 50% to 78%,
- Anniston City improved by 28 percentage points, from 60% to 88%,
- Sumter County improved by 26 percentage points, from 55% to 81%,
- Selma City improved by 25 percentage points, from 59% to 84%,
- Bessemer City improved by 26 percentage points, from 59% to 85%,
- Wilcox County improved by 25 percentage points, from 64% to 89%,
- Chickasaw City improved by 23 percentage points, from 62% to 85%,
- Conecuh County improved by 22 percentage points, from 66% to 88%,
- Hale County improved by 20 percentage points, from 70% to 90%, and
- Fairfield City improved by 20 percentage points, from 59% to 79%.
Second grade results in traditional districts ranged from 60% in Sumter County to 98% in Satsuma City, Oneonta City and Mountain Brook City schools.
Second graders also demonstrated dramatic improvement in reading skills, with 13 districts improving passing rates by 20 or more percentage points.
The highest level of improvement was in Barbour County, where second grade pass rates improved from 28% to 75% - an improvement of 47 percentage points - in Barbour County.
Among charter districts, Breakthrough Charter School’s second graders went from a 35% pass rate in 2023 to 80% of students passing this spring, a 45-percentage-point improvement.
The table below shows the percentage of third grade students reaching the benchmark in 2024 and in 2023. Click here if you are unable to see the table.
School-level results
School-level data also shows a wide range of grade level reading percentages: 45% to 100% in third grade and 40% to 100% for second grade.
Forty-six schools had 100% of third graders reach the benchmark score. Ten schools had all second graders reach the mark.
The table below shows the percentage of second and third grade students reading on grade level at each school and district. It is best viewed on a larger screen. Click here if you are unable to see the table.
More stories from the Ed Lab
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- Shifting terms, cut scores complicate Alabama 3rd grade reading efforts
- Who are Alabama’s highest and lowest paid school superintendents? See the salary list
- University of Alabama System campuses to increase in-state tuition
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