Birmingham City Schools overall district grade increased two points on the recently released Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) Report Cards, and several schools showed increases in letter grades.
Birmingham received a grade of 73 overall, an increase of 71 over the previous report. One school – Oliver Elementary – moved from a C to a B. Six Schools – Avondale, Brown, Huffman Academy, Robinson, Tuggle and Washington K-8 moved from D to C.
Four Schools – Arrington Elementary, West End Academy, Green Acres Middle and Hayes K-8 -- moved from F to D.
In another report on the state’s CSI (Comprehensive Support and Improvement) schools, comprised of Title I schools in the lowest 5% with critical needs, 10 BCS schools worked their way off of the list. Parker High, Huffman High, Carver High, Hudson K-8, South Hampton, K-8, Hayes K-8, Green Acres Middle, Huffman Middle,
Bush Hills Steam Academy,
and Charles A. Brown are no longer listed among CSI schools in Alabama.
Superintendent Dr. Mark Sullivan said the district is headed in the right direction, but continued focus in some key areas is needed to improve student achievement in all schools.
“We will not be satisfied until all schools and every student reaches the highest level of their potential,” Sullivan said. “We have been strategic in equipping our teachers, academic coaches and principals to meet the needs of our scholars.
“Our community partnerships with organizations such as the United Way and the City of Birmingham’s Page Pals program are helping to address literacy. Also, a team of national educators will soon begin supporting teachers to strengthen math instruction and student comprehension,” Sullivan said.
“We are using all available tools to support our educators and our students from kindergarten through high school. We look forward to their continued progress.”
In addition to the schools with increased letter grades:
*The number of schools included on the list for Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) decreased 53 percent, from 15 in 2019 to eight in 2022.
While several schools improved on the recent report cards, 12 schools dropped a letter grade since the last accountability period in 2018-2019,
Sullivan said.
The district will respond to the needs in these schools with
an increased focus on mathematics by:
• Partnering with the District Management Group.
• Focusing on chronic absenteeism with school-based student support and the use of external partners.
• Engaging a variety of partners to support efforts to raise high school student achievement on the ACT, the test used to assess high schools statewide.
Sullivan said students, parents and educators in Birmingham remained focused on achievement throughout the pandemic, and the continued progress in Birmingham City Schools is a result of their efforts.
“We are committed to continued academic progress in Birmingham City Schools,” Sullivan said. “Our school board and this community supports our mission, and with that support, our scholars will have success.”