Math in Alabama is facing a crisis.
Students in Alabama are facing a math crisis.
Alabama students are facing a math crisis, with only 35% of all students showing proficiency on the 2025 ACAP state assessment results. This includes only 23% of economically disadvantaged students and 18% of Black students. In 2024, Alabama was ranked 34th on the National Assessment of Education Progress ranking for math. This is an increase from 52nd in 2019 — but there is still a long way to go. A 35% math proficiency rate is not only an academic emergency for our students, but these numbers make it difficult for our state leaders to recruit new business and industry to our state. We must take action to improve math instruction & achievement in Alabama’s schools.
In 2022, the legislature passed the Alabama Numeracy Act. This was the first comprehensive piece of legislation in the nation with the goal of improving math instruction and support for all students, through a focus on teachers. The Act builds the capacity of our instructional leaders and elementary educators and increases support to our youngest students who are struggling with math through several critical levers, including:
- Strong implementation of high-quality instructional materials,
- Math coaches in every K–5 school by 2026,
- Intensive support for struggling math students, including summer math camps,
- High-quality professional learning for teachers & school leaders,
- Accountability to ensure schools are making progress, and
- Adjustments to elementary teacher preparation at the post-secondary level.
Since implementation of the Alabama Numeracy Act began, Alabama students’ math proficiency scores on the ACAP increased by 7 percentage points, from 28% in 2022 to 35% in 2025. Low-income students saw an increase of 6 percentage points and Black students increased by 10 percentage points. This progress is promising, and Alabama is leading the nation in math growth.
Even with recent increases, Alabama’s students are missing foundational skills that will impact their educational achievement for years to come, leaving them unprepared for college, career, and life. Proficiency levels for Alabama students are still low, and math skills are vital for career and life. Alabama must continue to work towards mathematics proficiency for all students.
