What share of students in Alabama are proficient in math?

In 2024, 18% of eighth graders in Alabama public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (4th lowest among the 50 states and DC) and 21% in reading, compared with 21% and 24% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Alabama, United States: official figures

88.2% of public high school students in Alabama graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); joint 13th highest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

88.2%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

213

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

262

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$13,627

FY2024

Public school enrollment

748,650

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

29.9%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Alabama rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Alabama was 88.2% in 2021-22, compared with 75% in 2011-12 and 91.7% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22. NCES advises caution with the 2011-12 figure: the Alabama State Department of Education has said its rates for 2010-11 to 2013-14 were misstated.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Alabama?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Alabama was 82.6% for economically disadvantaged students, 73.5% for students with disabilities and 68.0% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Alabama?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Alabama was 85.2% for Black, 83.8% for Hispanic and 90.4% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Alabama score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Alabama averaged 213 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 20th lowest among the 50 states and DC, up from 212 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 28% scored at or above Proficient and 42% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Alabama score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Alabama averaged 250 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 6th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 253 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 21% scored at or above Proficient and 41% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Alabama score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Alabama averaged 236 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 21st lowest among the 50 states and DC, up from 230 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 37% scored at or above Proficient and 24% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Alabama score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Alabama averaged 262 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 4th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 269 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 18% scored at or above Proficient and 50% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Alabama spend per student?

Public school systems in Alabama spent $13,627 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 12th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Alabama going up?

Current spending per pupil in Alabama rose from $10,077 in fiscal 2019 to $13,627 in fiscal 2024, up 35.2% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 6.7%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Alabama spend school money on?

Of the $13,627 spent per pupil in Alabama in fiscal 2024, $7,452 went on instruction and $5,319 on support services; salaries and wages came to $7,419 per pupil and employee benefits $2,641.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Alabama come from?

Public school systems in Alabama received $12.9 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 16.1% from the federal government, 52.5% from the state and 31.3% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Alabama spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Alabama was $12.0 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $10.3 billion was current spending and $1.5 billion capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $4.6 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Alabama?

748,650 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Alabama in fall 2023, up 0.6% on fall 2019 (744,235) and up 0.3% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Alabama?

Public schools in Alabama had 42,022 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 17.9 pupils per teacher, 8th most among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Alabama in fall 2019: 17.7).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Alabama have a college degree?

29.9% of adults aged 25 and over in Alabama, about 1,057,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; 8th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 2.5 percentage points on 2021 (27.4%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Alabama have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 11.8% of adults 25 and over in Alabama had a graduate or professional degree and 9.7% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Alabama did not finish high school?

89.6% of adults 25 and over in Alabama had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 10.4% without one; that share is 10th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Alabama compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Alabama ranks 13 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
10	Kansas	89.1%
11	Connecticut	88.9%
12	Mississippi	88.9%
13	Alabama	88.2%
14	Utah	88.2%
15	Arkansas	88.2%
16	Delaware	87.8%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Alabama ranks 11 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
8	Tennessee	83.6%
9	Florida	83.2%
10	Massachusetts	83.2%
11	Alabama	82.6%
12	Virginia	82.4%
13	Iowa	82.3%
14	Kansas	82.2%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Alabama ranks 33 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
30	Minnesota	214
31	South Dakota	214
32	North Carolina	213
33	Alabama	213
34	Nevada	213
35	Kansas	213
36	Vermont	213

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Alabama ranks 46 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
43	Mississippi	253
44	Texas	252
45	District of Columbia	251
46	Alabama	250
47	Oklahoma	249
48	Delaware	249
49	West Virginia	247

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Alabama ranks 33 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
30	Rhode Island	237
31	Illinois	236
32	Georgia	236
33	Alabama	236
34	Michigan	235
35	Missouri	235
36	Louisiana	235

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Alabama ranks 48 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
45	Oklahoma	264
46	Alaska	264
47	Delaware	263
48	Alabama	262
49	District of Columbia	262
50	West Virginia	261
51	New Mexico	256

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Alabama ranks 48 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
45	District of Columbia	20.1%
46	Arkansas	19.8%
47	Delaware	19.3%
48	Alabama	18.4%
49	West Virginia	17.8%
50	Oklahoma	17.4%
51	New Mexico	13.9%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Alabama ranks 14 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
11	Arkansas	43.8%
12	California	43.7%
13	Texas	42.9%
14	Alabama	42.4%
15	Nebraska	42.2%
16	Missouri	42.1%
17	Vermont	41.8%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Alabama ranks 40 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
37	Missouri	$14,241
38	Arkansas	$13,873
39	Montana	$13,656
40	Alabama	$13,627
41	Indiana	$13,622
42	North Carolina	$12,995
43	Texas	$12,895

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Alabama ranks 19 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
16	Delaware	+36.1%
17	Virginia	+35.3%
18	South Carolina	+35.2%
19	Alabama	+35.2%
20	Illinois	+34.2%
21	Arkansas	+33.5%
22	Maryland	+33.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Alabama ranks 40 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
37	Mississippi	32.5%
38	Michigan	32.4%
39	Delaware	31.8%
40	Alabama	31.3%
41	Minnesota	30.2%
42	Kansas	26.5%
43	Washington	26.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Alabama ranks 8 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
5	Oregon	18.7
6	Florida	18.3
7	Alaska	18.3
8	Alabama	17.9
9	Louisiana	17.5
10	Idaho	17.5
11	Washington	17.2

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Alabama ranks 9 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
6	South Carolina	+0.9%
7	Utah	+0.8%
8	Texas	+0.7%
9	Alabama	+0.6%
10	Florida	+0.5%
11	Louisiana	-0.3%
12	Nebraska	-0.3%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Alabama ranks 44 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
41	Iowa	32.1%
42	New Mexico	31.8%
43	Indiana	30.7%
44	Alabama	29.9%
45	Oklahoma	29.3%
46	Nevada	28.5%
47	Kentucky	27.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Alabama ranks 10 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
7	Louisiana	11.8%
8	Kentucky	11.0%
9	Arkansas	10.7%
10	Alabama	10.4%
11	Arizona	10.3%
12	Georgia	10.2%
13	West Virginia	9.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Alabama: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States

Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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