Alabama State Report Card

Message from the Superintendent

February 1, 2018

In 2012, the Alabama legislature secured a bi-partisan vote that created the Legislative School Performance Recognition Program Act – Act No. 2012-402, which legally requires a letter grade assessment to be assigned to most Alabama public schools. In accordance with this law, as well as the requirements from the federal Alabama’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Alabama school officials have worked to create the “Alabama State Report Card”.

Today, the Alabama State Department of Education released the “Alabama State Report Card” for each school and school system in Alabama. The purpose of this report card is to provide parents and the community-at-large a look at our schools and to share part of the story about what is happening. In the Tuscaloosa County School System, we welcome accountability and the transparency expected for our schools. Just as no one score or overall grade can truly describe the full measure of effectiveness of a student, school, or any other entity, the “Alabama State Report Card” is a beginning.

The effectiveness of our schools is a shared effort and responsibility – by teachers, staff members, administrators, parents, students, and the community-at-large. Our faculty and staff members work hard each day to provide a positive learning environment where students feel safe, loved, and are motivated to do their best. We are also very proud of the engagement of our families, community leaders, and many partners who are working with us. It is through this dedication and effort that our students will be able to improve, achieve at high levels, and graduate as prepared leaders for our society. 

While the public may hear reports of concerns related to the development and criteria for this particular report card, our schools will continue to concentrate on strategies for improvement. Our conversation and focus will center on learning, a collaborative culture, and results for student achievement, all while attending to the many diverse needs of students who come through our doors each day. As our parents and community review the “Alabama State Report Card”, I strongly invite you to become more engaged in our schools and work with us in a positive manner so that we may continue on a path of success.

Within each report card, information about academic achievement, academic growth, graduation rate, college and career indicators, chronic absenteeism, and student engagement will be found. In addition to these indicators that only begin to share the story, parents and community members may also want to consider the following:

• The graduation rate for each of the six high schools and the school system is increasing each year. The 2017 Alabama State Report Card reports data based on the 2016 cohort of students. While the graduation rate for the 2017 cohort has not been fully certified by the State, all indications are the graduation rate for the school system and all six high schools continues to increase.

• Over $10,530,000 in scholarships were earned by Tuscaloosa County School System students during the 2016-2017 school year.

• The Tuscaloosa County School System was added to the “Advanced Placement (AP) District Honor Roll” by the AP College Board due to the expansion of AP course opportunities and improved performance of our advanced placement students

• Through the partnership with West Alabama Works of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, we have been able to expand the career and technical education programs throughout our school system. As a result, students are now able to access more options that will better prepare them for college or the workforce.

• Teachers within each school are working collaboratively in professional learning communities to develop learning targets based on standards, align instruction to standards, deepen rigor in instructional practices, intervene early with struggling students, and accelerate learning for more able students. This work is essential in ensuring long-term positive growth for student achievement, engagement, and overall culture.

We encourage all parents and community members to review the “Alabama State Report Card” for our schools and school system. Links to this information may be found on the Alabama State Department website (http://www.alsde.edu) as well as our school system website (http://www.tcss.net). In addition to the report cards, you will find interpretive guides and answers to some of the most common questions. Finally, if you are already involved in your local school, please continue! If not, talk with a teacher, staff member, or administrator and join with us as we prepare this next generation for our future.

Walter W. Davie, Ed.D.

Superintendent

  Important Links

Commonly Asked Questions 

Alabama State Report Card – What You Need to Know

Prototype Example – Elementary & Middle Schools

Prototype Example – High Schools

Prototype Example – School Systems

Alabama State Report Card for Tuscaloosa County School

(click on above link to access report from each school & school system)