SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama students are showing some of the strongest math recovery in the nation following pandemic-era learning disruptions, but reading scores remain weaker, and progress continues to vary widely across school districts, according to a new Education Recovery Scorecard analysis.
The scorecard, released Wednesday, was created through a collaboration among researchers at Harvard University, Stanford University, and Dartmouth College. It compares state and district reading and math results for students in grades 3 through 8, using data through spring 2025.
According to the report, Alabama ranked 10th among 38 states in math growth and 13th among 35 states in reading growth between 2022 and 2025. Researchers said Alabama was one of only two states performing above 2019 levels in math, marking a significant sign of academic recovery.
The reading picture, however, is less encouraging. The report found that the average Alabama student remained below both 2022 and 2019 reading levels, showing that literacy recovery has not kept pace with math improvement.
Researchers used a method that converts state test results into estimated average scores aligned with the National Assessment of Educational Progress. The scorecard measures changes in student achievement over time, not simply the percentage of students considered proficient on state tests.
One bright spot was student attendance. Alabama’s chronic absenteeism rate dropped from 17.7% in 2022 to 12% in 2025, falling below the state’s pre-pandemic rate of 15.6%. Nationally, researchers said chronic absenteeism remains a major challenge, with 23% of students chronically absent during the 2024-25 school year.
Several Alabama districts were highlighted for strong results. Birmingham City, Coffee County, and Muscle Shoals City were identified as outperforming similar districts in both math and reading. Franklin, Geneva, and Marion counties were recognized for math gains, while Cullman City, Homewood City, Hoover City, and Houston County stood out in reading.
Tuscaloosa City Schools was also named one of the report’s ‘Districts on the Rise.’ Researchers pointed to the district’s long-term focus on literacy, numeracy, school culture, college and career readiness, instructional coaching, summer learning, and regular reviews of student data.
Still, the report cautioned that recovery remains uneven. Some districts remain below 2019 math levels, while others continue to lose ground in reading. Researchers said Alabama should focus future school improvement dollars on middle- and higher-poverty districts that remain behind their pre-pandemic performance levels.
The findings show a mixed but important picture: Alabama has made real progress in math, but reading recovery will require continued attention, investment, and support.