Alabama Reading Scores Up, Gaps Remain

Alabama's latest education data reveals that about 88% of third-grade students met or exceeded the new, higher reading proficiency benchmark on the 2025 state test, following an increase in the cut score from 435 to 444. This improvement demonstrates academic growth even under tougher standards. Despite some districts achieving 100% proficiency, disparities remain, with several districts seeing only about two-thirds of students meeting the benchmark. The Alabama Literacy Act requires retention for those not meeting the reading standard, although fewer than 500 third-graders were held back. High school graduation rates have climbed to a record 92%, and 88% of graduates are considered college and career ready, reflecting effective academic and technical initiatives. However, significant gaps persist between school systems in both reading proficiency and post-graduation readiness.