Tuscaloosa City Schools Earn Highest-Ever Score on State Report Cards

The Tuscaloosa city school system is celebrating its best-ever results on district report cards from the Alabama Department of Education, drawing closer to a coveted "A" Grade.

On Thursday, a spokesperson for Tuscaloosa City Schools announced that it scored an 86 on the 2025 district report card, continuing a trend of annual improvement driven by hard-fought gains at schools once known for underperforming.

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When the state first issued report cards in 2017, TCS scored a 78. Except for a brief decline in 2023, the score has increased each year as the district pursues becoming an "A" system.

In a press release announcing the feat, outgoing Superintendent Dr. Mike Daria credited the district’s progress to a shared commitment to student success and continuous improvement.

“This achievement represents years of dedicated work by our teachers, leaders and staff across all schools,” said Daria. “While we’re proud of this record score, our focus remains on continued growth and helping every student reach their full potential.”

Fourteen schools in the TCS System improved on their individual results from last year, which was itself a year of progress at almost every school under their umbrella. Two schools saw no change in their scores, and four Tuscaloosa schools slipped by one or two points.

Oakdale Elementary led the growth, jumping from a D-grade score of 69 last year to an 81 B this year - a 12-point swing in the right direction.

The system's announcement of a record-high District report card included comments from Lucille Prewitt, the former Oakdale principal who retired at the end of last school year.

“Our success was the result of sustained focus, shared goals, and a culture where every student mattered,” Prewitt said. “This improvement is something the entire Oakdale community can be proud of — and it shows what is possible when we believe in our children and each other.”

Academic performance and college or career readiness are improving across TCS schools, and chronic absenteeism is decreasing, all of which contribute to higher report card scores for individual schools and the district overall.

“Every year, our goal is to provide stronger teaching and learning experiences for our students,” said James Pope, deputy superintendent. “The upward trend shows our strategies are working — and that our schools are moving together in the right direction.”

System stakeholders and school leaders will discuss the successes and significant score gains in a meeting later this month, which will be covered by the Thread.

“As we celebrate this success, we’re already focused on the next steps,” Daria added. “Our goal remains clear — to become an ‘A’ district for every student, every day.”

For more coverage of local schools and other news in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.