Tuscaloosa City Schools Celebrate Another Year of Math & Reading Proficiency Progress

Tuscaloosa City Schools students posted higher proficiency rates in English language arts and math on this year's state assessment, and district leaders say the longer arc since 2021 shows sustained academic growth.

In results they touted last week, TCS said 65% of its elementary students scored proficient in ELA On the 2026 Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program, up from 42% in 2021. Elementary math proficiency more than doubled over the same span, climbing from 21% to 45%.

The state administers the ACAP each spring to students in grades two through eight in ELA and math and in grades four, six and eight in science. Students are counted as proficient if they reach Level 3 or Level 4.

TCS said middle school students gained ground in both subjects. ELA proficiency rose from 42% in 2021 to 53% this year, while math proficiency increased from 15% to 28%.

The district also said elementary math and ELA scores have both risen every year since 2022.

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Since 2021, TCS reports elementary ELA proficiency up 23 percentage points, middle school ELA up 11 points, elementary math up 24 points and middle school math up 13 points.

"When we look at where we were six years ago and where our students are today, we see clear evidence of continued progress across the Tuscaloosa City Schools," Superintendent Mike Daria said. "These results reflect the sustained work of our teachers, school leaders and students. We know there is more work to do, but this kind of long-term growth shows that our schools are moving in the right direction."

Measured against the rest of Alabama, the 2026 picture is mixed.

Tested across all grades, TCS came in slightly ahead of the state in math, with 35% proficiency compared with 34.3% statewide. The district said it recorded the highest math proficiency rate among public school systems in its area.

But TCS recorded 54% proficiency in ELA, which is below the statewide rate of 57.1%. In science, the district posted 39.7% proficiency against a state figure of 47%.

Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning James Pope said the district's focus on classroom instruction is showing up in the results.

"We have been very intentional about the work we are doing to strengthen teaching and learning across our schools, and this continued growth tells us that work is having an impact," Pope said. "The progress we are seeing is encouraging, but it also reinforces the importance of staying focused and continuing the work. We want to build on what is working so that more of our students reach proficiency each year."

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