Alabama: Comparing schools and districts based on student proficiency
The information below reflects the most recent data available to us; please contact us with questions or to request additional analyses.
The charts linked below allow you to compare schools and districts in Alabama with their peers. The Y (vertical) axis shows the percentage of proficient 3rd graders in a subject; the X (horizontal) axis shows the percentage of students who qualify for the free or reduced rate lunch program, a common indicator of poverty in schools.
In order to provide users a chart containing more realistic estimates of local school performance, ECF has created a second chart showing the percentage of students reaching the state’s “Advanced” standard–a standard more nearly comparable to the NAEP’s “Proficient” level of performance.
Available charts:
- Proficient and Advanced: Poverty versus 3rd grade reading proficiency (2023)
- Proficient and Advanced: Poverty versus 3rd grade reading proficiency (2022)
- Proficient and Advanced: Poverty versus 3rd grade reading proficiency (2021)
- Proficient and Advanced: Poverty versus 3rd grade reading proficiency (2019)
- Proficient and Advanced: Poverty versus 3rd grade reading proficiency (2018)
- Proficient and Advanced: Poverty versus 3rd grade reading proficiency (2017)
- Proficient and Advanced: Poverty versus 3rd grade reading proficiency (2016)
- Proficient and Advanced: Poverty versus 3rd grade reading proficiency (2015)
- Proficient and Advanced: Poverty versus 3rd grade reading proficiency (2013)
- Advanced Only: Poverty versus 3rd grade reading proficiency (2013)
- Proficient and Advanced: Poverty versus 3rd grade reading proficiency (2012)
Note: Alabama began using the ACT Aspire assessment in 2014. Therefore, previous year results should not be compared to the 2015 and subsequent assessments.
User Alert for 2013: Compared to the scores reported by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the proficiency percentages reported by Alabama appear to be inflated. The independent NAEP reports 30% of the state’s 4th grade students to be proficient or above in reading. Alabama is reporting close to 90%.
Comparing Alabama’s Proficiency Standards to the National “Gold Standard” (NAEP)
Each state defines for itself what “proficient” means; some states have a rigorous definition, while others are less strict in their standards. To see how states compare, ECF has published charts showing the percentage of students deemed proficient in various subjects and grade levels and compared them to percentages reported for each state by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP, or “The Nation’s Report Card”), considered to be the gold standard.