News & Announcements
- 2021-2022 Kindergarten Registration
- Meet the Principal - Mr. Michael Tilford
- Hillcrest High Named 2020 CLAS School of Distinction
- Read Across America 2021
- TCHS Seniors Recognized Through National Merit Scholarship Program
- February 26, 2021: Latest Data Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- TCSS News & Notes - 2.24.21
- Board Approves Temporary Pay Increase for Substitute Teachers & LPNs
- Architects & Construction Managers Approved for Construction Projects
- Planning for the Opening of Northport Intermediate & Reconfiguration of TCHS Feeder Pattern Schools
- 2021 TCSS Educator Recognition Awards
- TCHS Celebrates Mars Rover Landing & Classmate's Role in Historic Event
- Regular Operations to Resume Wednesday, February 17
- Schools & Central Office Closed Tuesday, February 16
- Schools & Central Office Closed Monday, February 15
- Monitoring the Weather for Monday, February 15
- February 12, 2021: Data Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- Neighborhood Bridges Tuscaloosa County Launches Friday, February 12
- Mr. Bill Squires Takes Oath of Office as District 7 Board of Education Member
- February 1-5 Is National School Counseling Week
- Tuesday, March 9: ACT for 11th Graders, E-Learning Day for 9th, 10th, & 12th Graders
- TCSS High Schools to Move to Block Schedule for 2021-2022 School Year
- TCSS Adds Mental Health Services Coordinator
- TCSS Adds New Digital Library Resource, SORA
- Thank You, Board Members!
- January 30, 2021: Data Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- 2021 High School Graduation Dates Set
- Brookwood Middle Named 2021 State School of Character
- Commission Recognizes TCSS Career Technical Education Programs
- Celebrating 50 Years of Service to TCSS & Our Students
- Board to Hold Interviews January 21 for District 7 Board of Education Seat
- January 15, 2021: Data Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- TCSS Seeks Candidates for Position of Chief School Financial Officer
- TCSS to Implement Two-Hour Delay Tuesday, January 12, 2021
- Pre-Kindergarten Pre-Registration Deadline Is Monday, March 8
- TCSS to Implement Three-Hour Delay Monday, January 11, 2021
- TCSS to Return to Five-Day On-Campus Schedule Monday, January 11
- December 19, 2020: Data Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- TCSS to Implement A/B Schedule for On-Campus Students January 5 - 8, 2021
- Application Period Open Until January 7 for District 7 Board of Education Seat
- Photo Gallery - Celebrating the Holiday Season
- TCSS Educators Receive Tuscaloosa Education Foundation Grants
- Statement on the Passing of Board of Education Member Mr. Bill Copeland
- Board of Education Approves Extraordinary Compensation for Employees
- TCSS CSFO Announces Upcoming Retirement
- ADPH Updates Guidelines for Schools, Regarding Quarantine Period
- TCSS Teachers Receive Nick's Kids Teacher Excellence Awards
- Sipsey Valley Celebrates Addition of Athletics Facilities
- 2021-2022 TCSS Academic Calendar Approved
- TCSS to Shift to A/B Schedule Beginning Monday, December 14
- December 4, 2020: Latest Data Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- Board Members Begin New Terms in Office
- December 3: Update from the Office of the Superintendent
- Choose Your Learning Option for Third Nine Weeks
- Provide Feedback on Proposed 2021-2022 TCSS Academic Calendar
- November 20: Data Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- Meet Our Education Heroes
- November 17: Update from the Office of the Superintendent
- TEF, Jalapeno's, & TCSS Celebrate Our Education Heroes
- November 12: Information Regarding COVID-19 & Our Schools
- November 10: Data Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- Photo Gallery: Vocabulary Parade
- TCSS Celebrates Red Ribbon Week
- Celebrating Decades of Service to Our Schools
- TCSS Receives $389,000 Grant for Career Technical Education
- October 26: An Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- Unity Day 2020 - Photo Gallery
- Alabama College Application Week 2020
- October 15: An Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- CRMS Tigers Celebrate Championship Win & Undefeated Season
- Second Nine Weeks: Important Upcoming Dates
- TCSS Goes Blue for World Day of Bullying Prevention
- Celebrating Homecoming Traditions
- TCSS Promotes BRAVE Bullying Prevention Initiative
- October 1: An Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- TCSS E-Learning Day Set for Friday, October 16
- Schools Receive Tuscaloosa Education Foundation Grants for Character Education
- Big Sandy Receives Visit from National Organization to Mark Achievement
- TCHS Wind Ensemble Receives National Recognition
- Join Our Team as a Substitute
- September 17: An Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- TCSS to Implement Edgenuity Online Learning Solution for Remote Learners
- TCHS Student Named National Merit Semifinalist
- An Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- Breakfast and Lunch Available to All TCSS Students, at No Cost to Families
- Continuous Improvement Planning
- Photo Gallery: Welcome Back to School!
- Welcome Dr. Johnson!
- Leaders Are Readers
- Celebrating Service to Our Students - Photo Gallery
- Congratulations to the Class of 2020!
- Thank You, Dr. Davie! - Photo Gallery
- Preparing for Our Return to School
- Holt Elementary Selected as 2020 Promising Practice School
- A Message to Our TCSS Community & Resources for Families
- Big Sandy Named First "Model PLC at Work" School in Alabama
- 2020 - 2021 Transportation Information
- Board Selects Candidates to Fill Superintendent and CSFO Positions
- Class of 2020 Graduation Celebrations on WVUA 23
- Two TCSS Schools Chosen as 2020 National Schools of Character
- Board Approves Revised 2020-2021 Academic Calendar
- 2020-2021 Kindergarten Registration
- New Principal Named for Lake View Elementary
- TCHS Junior Names NASA's Mars Helicopter
- Storm Shelter Information
- Superintendent & CSFO Update
- TCSS Reads Across America!
- Information on Search for TCSS Superintendent and Chief School Financial Officer
- Waiver Requested for February 11 Weather Day
- TCSS Students Spread Kindness
- National School Counseling Week 2020
- February Is Career Technical Education Month
- TCSS Schools Chosen as 2020 State Schools of Character
- School Board Member Recognition Month
- Fighting the Flu
- TCSS 2020 Educator Recognition Award Recipients
- TCSS Student Chosen as Finalist in NASA Contest
- Honors for TCHS Wind Ensemble
- Pre-K Registration Information for 2020-2021 School Year
- TCSS Superintendent and CSFO Announce Retirements
- Honors for Holt High Carpentry
- Nick's Kids Teacher Excellence Awards
- TCSS Celebrates Alabama's Bicentennial
- TCSS Teachers Achieve National Board Certification
- Holiday Book Drive
- 2020-2021 TCSS Academic Calendar Approved
- TCSS Students Honor Veterans
- Commission Provides Funding for Projects at Schools
- TCSS High School Students Participate in Reality Check
- Pumpkins Become Book Characters
- May 2020 Graduation Ceremonies Announced
- Alabama Education Report Card
- TCSS Teams Up Against Bullying on Friday, October 18
- TCSS Launches BRAVE Bullying Prevention Program
- TCSS Launching New Community Engagement Program
- TCSS Schools Selected as Bicentennial Schools of Excellence
- TEF Celebrates Superintendents & Supporters of Education
- Ribbon Cutting & Open House for Sipsey Valley Middle School
- TCSS Teacher on "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?"
- 2019 TCSS Summer Meals Program
- TCSS Names New Administrators
- TCSS Celebrates Alabama Bicentennial
- Tuscaloosa County School System
- Alabama Education Report Card


Tuscaloosa County School System Earns a B in New Report Card, Shows Double-Digit Increase in Academic Growth
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October 18, 2019
The Alabama State Department of Education released the Alabama Education Report Card on Friday, as well as Report Cards for each school system and individual schools across the state. Using data from the 2018-2019 school year, the Report Card uses six Accountability Indicators to calculate a letter grade for the state, each school system and each school. The Tuscaloosa County School System received an overall grade of B, with a total of 83 points. Compared to the 2017-2018 Report Card, TCSS showed an overall gain of six points, moving up one letter grade.
Within the six Accountability Indicators, TCSS either showed gains or remained level with the previous year’s scores. One indicator where TCSS showed significant gains was the Academic Growth indicator, with an increase of 12.5 percentage points.
“One of the areas in which we are certainly proud of all of our schools is in Academic Growth,” TCSS Superintendent Dr. Walter Davie said.
“The progress in this indicator shows that students are meeting annual growth targets of performance. Every school in our system, regardless of proficiency scores, showed significant gains in this area. Academic growth is a critical area and the one where the most rapidly improving schools and districts across the nation place their focus.”
Each of TCSS’s 34 schools also received a letter grade, based on the same indicators as the system score. All schools showed progress in one or more areas. Like the district, many schools posted high percentages in Academic Growth, resulting in large overall score increases for some schools. No matter what score an individual school received, school and system-level administrators are developing strategies to address specific needs and continue growth at each school.
At the system level, TCSS showed gains in College and Career Readiness and Progress in English Language Proficiency, compared to the previous Report Card. The English Language Learner population in TCSS has tripled over the past five years. Scores for Academic Achievement and Graduation Rate remained level with the previous year.
While the system had an overall decrease in the number of students who are Chronically Absent, some individual schools continued to show significant rates of Chronic Absenteeism. Chronic Absenteeism is defined as missing 18 or more days in a school year, for any reason, excused or unexcused. Not only does Chronic Absenteeism negatively impact the Report Card score, but the greater concern is the negative impact on student learning.
“The leading predictor for a student to possibly become a high school dropout is poor attendance,” Davie said.
“The Tuscaloosa County School System’s Report Card shows that only 9.43% of our students are labeled as chronically absent. However, there are individual schools and school zones where much work is needed. This speaks directly to help needed from parents, as it is clear that students who do not attend school regularly lose significant amounts of instructional time, generally show poorer academic achievement, and are in danger of dropping out. While our school system is significantly lower than the State’s average in students who are chronically absent, we hope parents will work with us in continuing to minimize this area of concern.”
Aside from specific strategies to address individual school needs and goals, TCSS continues to implement system-wide strategies, to continue the progress the system has shown in Accountability Indicators. These strategies include:
- Collecting data throughout the school year, so instructional changes are made as needed. This includes intervention for struggling students and enrichment for high-achieving students.
- Working to make sure teachers clearly understand content standards.
- Counseling and tracking student progress toward graduation, as well as college and career planning.
- Strengthening efforts with parents to ensure students are never unnecessarily absent.
- Providing high-quality professional development for teachers.
- Implementing new initiatives to aid progress for our growing English Language Learner population.
- Focusing on literacy and writing skills across all grades.
In addition to the Overall Score and Accountability Indicators, the System Report Card also includes student and system demographic information, percentages of proficiency by subject, and educator profile information. For instance, educator profile information for TCSS shows more than half of the system’s educators have earned a master’s degree or higher.
Families can find more information about their school’s individual Report Card score through the school’s web site or office.
The Alabama State Department of Education developed the Report Card to comply with state and federal law. In 2012, the Alabama Legislature created the Legislative School Performance Recognition Program Act, which requires a letter grade to be assigned to most Alabama public schools. The Report Card is also in accordance with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. Find more information about the Report Card at the Alabama State Department of Education web site.