Many MPS third-graders test poorly in reading proficiency. Here's the breakdown by school.
Achieving adequate reading proficiency by the third grade has always been a benchmark in primary education, and the implementation of the Alabama Literacy Act makes it all the more important. Starting this year, kids may be held back from the fourth grade if they do not meet state standards on the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program at the end of the school year.
In Montgomery Public Schools last year, the third-grade ACAP pass rates ranged from 23% at Chisholm Elementary to 100% at Forest Avenue Elementary.
Progress toward literacy is, of course, individual to each student. However, examining the average proficiency by grade level in each elementary school can help parents understand how their students are faring against the rest of their peers across the school district.
Here is a breakdown of each MPS elementary school’s 2022-2023 results from the ACAP for its third graders.
Bear Exploration Center
Out of 84 third-graders who took the assessment at Bear, 93% of them were on or above their grade level in proficiency. Only 7% tested below, placing the school toward the top of the MPS pack and above the state average.
Blount Elementary School
Out of 50 third-graders who took the assessment, 78% of them were on or above grade level in proficiency. 22% of students were reading below grade level.
Brewbaker Intermediate School
Out of 159 third-graders who took the assessment, 52% of them were on or above grade level in proficiency. 48% of students were reading below grade level.
Carver Elementary School
Out of 66 third-graders who took the assessment, 73% of them were on or above grade level in proficiency. 27% of students tested below grade level.
Catoma Elementary School
Out of 36 third-graders who took the assessment, 13 of them tested on or above grade level in proficiency, which is about 36%. The other 64% of third-grade students tested below grade level.
Chisholm Elementary School
Out of 82 third-graders tested, 19 of them tested on or above grade level, which is about 23%. The other 77% of students tested below grade level.
Dalraida Elementary School
Out of 122 third-graders tested, 63% of them were on or above grade level in reading proficiency. 37% of students tested below grade level.
Dannelly Elementary School
Out of 95 third-graders tested, 52% of them were reading on or above grade level. The other 48% of students tested below.
Davis Elementary School
Out of 74 third-graders who took the assessment, 23 of them tested on or above grade level, which is about a 31% pass rate. The other 69% of students tested below grade level.
Dozier Elementary School
Out of 60 third-graders tested, 57% of them were reading on or above their grade level. 43% of students tested below grade level proficiency.
The Dunbar-Ramer School
The Alabama State Department of Education did not list any ACAP results for Dunbar-Ramer in its annual report. Dunbar-Ramer is the only MPS elementary school where this is the case, and the reason was not provided in the report.
Flowers Elementary School
Out of 71 third-graders who took the assessment, 32 of them tested on or above grade level, which is about a 45% pass rate. The other 55% of students tested below their grade level in reading proficiency.
Forest Avenue Elementary School
Out of 89 third-graders who took the assessment, every single one of them was reading on or above grade level. Forest Avenue is the only MPS institution to have a 100% ACAP pass rate among its third-graders.
Garrett Elementary School
Out of 97 third-graders tested, 53% of them were reading on or above their grade level. 47% of the students tested below.
Halcyon Elementary School
Out of 99 third-grade students who took the assessment, 59% were reading on or above grade level. 41% tested below the third-grade level in reading proficiency.
Highland Avenue Elementary School
Out of 72 third-graders who took the assessment, 43% of them tested on or above grade level in reading proficiency. 57% tested below.
Highland Gardens Elementary School
Out of 60 third-graders who took the assessment, 47% of them tested on or above grade level in reading proficiency. 53% tested below.
Johnson Elementary School
Out of 42 third-graders who took the assessment, 14 of them tested on or above grade level, which is about a 33% pass rate. The other 67% of students tested below their grade level in reading proficiency.
King Elementary School
Out of 40 third-graders who took the assessment, 16 of them tested on or above grade level, which is a 40% pass rate. The other 60% of students tested below their grade level in reading proficiency.
MacMillan International Academy
Out of 57 third-grade students who took the assessment, 96% were reading on or above grade level. Just two students tested below grade level, making MacMillan one of the most successful MPS school’s for third grade reading.
Fitzpatrick Elementary School
Out of 53 third-graders tested, 47% of them were reading on or above their grade level. 53% of students tested below grade level proficiency.
Morris Elementary School
Out of 67 third-graders who took the assessment, 39 of them tested on or above grade level, which is about a 58% pass rate. The other 42% of students tested below their grade level in reading proficiency.
Morningview Elementary School
Out of 61 third-graders tested, 46% of them were reading on or above their grade level. 54% of the students tested below.
Nixon Elementary School
Out of 78 third-graders who took the assessment, 22 of them tested on or above grade level, which is about a 28% pass rate. The other 72% of students tested below their grade level in reading proficiency.
Crump Elementary School
Out of 66 third-graders tested, 36% of them were reading on or above their grade level. 64% of students tested below grade level proficiency.
Pintlala Elementary School
Out of 11 third-graders tested, 73% of them were reading on or above their grade level. 27% of the students tested below.
Southlawn Elementary School
Out of 52 third-graders who took the assessment, 22 of them tested on or above grade level, which is about a 42% pass rate. The other 58% of students tested below their grade level in reading proficiency.
Vaughn Road Elementary School
Out of 56 third-graders who took the assessment, 68% of them tested on or above grade level in reading proficiency. 32% tested below.
Wares Ferry Elementary School
Out of 54 third-graders who took the assessment, 25 of them tested on or above grade level, which is about a 46% pass rate. The other 54% of students tested below their grade level in reading proficiency.
Wilson Elementary School
Out of 70 third-graders tested, 53% of them were reading on or above their grade level. 47% of the students tested below.
Hadley Hitson covers children's health, education and welfare for the Montgomery Advertiser. She can be reached at hhitson@gannett.com. To support her work, subscribe to the Advertiser.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Third-grade literacy varies across Montgomery Public Schools
