Alabama’s 11th-grade ACT proficiency rates reversed several years of decline this spring, reaching their highest levels in recent years.
Statewide, the percentage of students scoring proficient in English rose from 30.3% to 33.8%, math increased from 23.9% to 27.5%, and science climbed from 31.9% to 36.0%.
State Superintendent Eric Mackey noted the turnaround during a recent State Board of Education work session, saying ACT results had been floundering in recent years and that he was glad to see the numbers begin moving upward.
Growing trend?
At some individual high schools, the gains were much larger.
At Northside High School in Tuscaloosa County, the improvement is part of a pattern that has been building for several years. English language arts proficiency rose from about 24% to 31% to 47% over the past three years. Math climbed from 16% to 28% to 44%, while science rose from 28% to 41% to 59%.
Principal Jeremy Madden said there is no single program behind the improvement, but the effort is intentional.
“It’s not one thing,” Madden said. “It’s a lot of things.”
Note: Since Dr. Madden spoke with Alabama Daily News late last week, his family home was destroyed by fire Friday night. His family was not home, and their dog was found safe, but his house is a total loss. Madden said that he wanted this story to be published as planned. Read local television coverage of the fire here.
Madden, who is in his third year as principal at Northside, described an effort that reaches from the master schedule to classroom instruction to the way students think about the ACT.
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Trisha Powell Crain and originally published by Alabama Daily News.
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