Alabama schools score a ‘D+’ on national education report card

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May 26, 2015

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A new report card from education news website EdWeek.org shows that Alabama still has a long way to go in improving its public school system.

Earning an overall score of 67.7 for a D+, Alabama ranked No. 45, coming in ahead only of Mississippi (64.2), Nevada (65.0), New Mexico (65.5), Oklahoma (67.6), Arizona (67.6), and tying with Idaho.

The average score nationwide was 74.3, and not a single state was given an A on the report card.

Here’s how Alabama’s schools stacked up in individually measured factors:

Chance for Success: C- (71.2)
Early foundations: C+ (78.9)
School years: D (66.2)
Adult outcomes: C- (71.1)

K-12 Achievement: D- (62.2)
Status: F (46.8)
Change: D+ (67.9)
Equity: C+ (79.0)

School Finance: C- (69.7)
Equity: B+ (88.9)
Spending: F (50.6)

The top 10 states were:
1. Massachusetts (86.2)
2. New Jersey (85.5)
3. Maryland (85.2)
4. Vermont (83.0)
5. New Hampshire (82.4)
6. Connecticut (82.3)
7. Wyoming (80.6)
8. Pennsylvania (80.1)
9. New York (80.0)
10. Minnesota (79.9)

In spite of the low score, education reform advocates note that the state has made strides in the right direction in recent years, particularly when it comes to expanding school choice options for students previously stuck in failing schools.