ACS— Newly released state reading results show Alabaster City Schools continues to rank among Alabama’s highest-performing school systems in one of education’s most important early learning benchmarks: third-grade reading proficiency.
According to the latest Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP) test data, 96% of Alabaster City Schools third graders scored on or above grade level in reading, placing ACS among the top-performing school systems in Alabama and fourth among school systems in Central Alabama. The statewide average was 88.2%.
Third-grade reading proficiency is widely viewed as a key indicator of future academic success because students transition from learning to read to reading to learn in the upper grades.
The results reflect the continued work of students, teachers, school leaders and families across Alabaster City Schools to build strong literacy foundations beginning in the earliest grades.
“Our students’ success in reading does not happen by accident,” ACS Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers said. “These results reflect intentional instruction, dedicated educators, supportive families and students who continue to rise to high expectations every day.”
Across Alabama, reading achievement has remained relatively stable following strong post-pandemic gains, making the academic progress of high-performing systems even more impressive. While statewide proficiency held at 88.2%, Alabaster City Schools exceeded that mark by nearly eight percentage points.
Alabaster City Schools has continued to prioritize literacy instruction through targeted interventions, classroom support and a focus on helping every student develop the reading skills needed for long-term success.