MONTGOMERY, AL — Results from the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), known as “America’s Report Card,” reveal that Alabama students are achieving significant strides in post-pandemic academic recovery. In a notable turnaround, Alabama’s 4th-grade math ranking jumped from 52nd in 2019 to 32nd in 2024, marking the largest scale score increase in the nation for this subject.
Alabama is one of only five states to fully recover to pre-COVID levels in 4th-grade math, surpassing other states in pandemic recovery comparisons. The state’s 6-point scale score improvement demonstrates the effectiveness of targeted initiatives to address learning loss.
During a press briefing, Governor Kay Ivey celebrated the progress, emphasizing the collective effort of students, teachers, and parents. “Today we celebrate students, teachers, and parents because we are making significant progress in education in our state,” said Governor Ivey. “Alabama is an education state. Our students’ education is everything, and clearly, it was one of our state’s most pressing areas to address when I took office. While there is more work ahead, I am confident our forward momentum will continue.”
State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey praised Alabama’s elementary math progress, attributing the improvement to higher academic standards and the dedication of educators. “Our teachers and school leaders deserve all the praise for a job well done,” said Dr. Mackey. He highlighted the state’s focus on math improvement and pledged to continue efforts to enhance academic outcomes, particularly in middle schools.
Alabama has seen significant gains in 4th-grade reading, moving from 49th in 2019 to 34th in 2024. The state is one of only two nationwide, alongside Louisiana, to exceed pre-COVID performance levels in this subject.
For 8th-grade reading and math, Alabama showed modest improvements, with rankings increasing from 49th to 47th and from 52nd to 49th, respectively. However, scale scores in these areas have remained relatively flat, prompting further initiatives to address middle school academic challenges.
Dr. Mackey emphasized the importance of addressing these gaps, citing recent investments in middle school reading and proposed future funding to expand educational initiatives. “Absolutely, there is still a lot of work to do. Focusing on middle school progress is a major concern,” said Dr. Mackey.
Alabama students with special needs demonstrated remarkable growth in both 4th-grade math and reading. In math, scale scores increased from 196 in 2019 to 212 in 2024, exceeding the national average. Reading scores for students with disabilities also rose from 164 in 2019 to 176 in 2024.
While Alabama has shown notable progress, national data indicates that many states are still struggling to recover to pre-COVID academic levels. For example, national 4th-grade math scores dropped from 240 in 2019 to 237 in 2024, while 8th-grade math declined from 281 to 272 during the same period.
Alabama’s ongoing efforts, bolstered by laws like the Alabama Literacy and Numeracy Acts and the incorporation of the NAEP framework into the state’s curriculum, position the state for continued academic success.
With strong state leadership, increased legislative investment, and the commitment of teachers and school leaders, Alabama’s upward trajectory reflects its dedication to improving educational outcomes for all students.
