The Alabama Department of Education has posted the 2025‑26 federal school report cards, giving families a clear view of how their local districts are performing on academic achievement, growth, graduation rates and college‑and‑career readiness. The data cover 29 districts across North Alabama, from Huntsville to the smaller county systems.

Top‑performing district

Cullman City Schools earned the highest overall academic achievement score, a 94.18, placing it at the top of the statewide list. This strong showing reflects consistent gains in test scores and graduation outcomes, offering reassurance to parents who prioritize solid academic foundations for their children.

Perfect growth scores

Nine districts posted an academic growth score of 100, indicating that students in those systems made the maximum measurable progress over the reporting period. While the report does not name each of those districts, the achievement underscores the effectiveness of targeted instruction and curriculum alignment in those areas.

Understanding the report card metrics

The federal report card separates four key indicators. The first column, shown after each district name, is the overall federal score, a composite of the three other measures. The remaining columns break down the individual indicators:

• Academic achievement – a score based on student performance on nationally benchmarked assessments.
• Academic growth – a score that tracks year‑over‑year improvement, not just raw proficiency.
• Graduation rate – reported as a percentage of students who earn a high‑school diploma.
• College and career readiness – also a percentage, reflecting the share of graduates meeting post‑secondary benchmarks.

These figures are district‑wide; individual schools within a district may show different results. Parents can drill down to the school level by selecting a district on the Alabama Department of Education’s federal report card site.

How families can use the data

For parents weighing school choices, the report cards provide a transparent snapshot of each district’s strengths. A high academic achievement score suggests strong test performance, while a perfect growth score signals that a district is effectively closing learning gaps. Graduation and college‑and‑career readiness rates help families gauge how well students are prepared for life after high school.

In addition to the federal report card, Alabama publishes a separate state report card that uses different criteria and assigns letter grades. Comparing both can give a fuller picture of a district’s overall health.

Where to find the full data

All 29 district report cards are available on the Alabama Department of Education’s website. The site allows users to select a year, district and even an individual school to view the supporting data. As more districts upload their official scores, the list will be updated.

With the release of these report cards, North Alabama families now have a valuable tool to make informed decisions about their children’s education, reinforcing the community’s commitment to academic excellence and future readiness.

Original reporting: WAFF 48 Huntsville (news) — read the source article.