More of Alabama’s students graduated high school last year designated as ready for the next step into college or the workplace, according to a Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama analysis of new data released by the Alabama Department of Education.

The public schools’ on-time graduation rate returned to its record levels after a COVID-related slump, reaching 92% statewide. The rate of graduates who met the requirements to fulfill the college and career readiness designation was 88%, leaving just a 4% gap, according to the report.

For Birmingham City Schools, the graduation rate was 81% in 2024, with a college and career readiness rate of 76%, according to data in the study.

Tom Spencer, a senior research associate with PARCA, said the gap between students who graduate and those who earn college and career readiness status is a key indicator as to whether schools are getting students ready for their next steps in life.

By 2026, the state is requiring that all students who earn a general education diploma from state schools also have earned college and career ready status.

Spencer said that along with passing rules requiring students to earn college and career ready status, the Legislature allocated money for schools to expand their academic and technical education program. Schools also have developed closer relationships with their nearby community colleges to provide students a chance to attend classes and technical training.

The biggest increases among students who had earned college and career ready status were in students who had earned college credits while in high school and those who had participated in career technical education programs, according to the report.

“School systems and high schools have different approaches to providing students with pathways to the CCR designation,” the report states. “Academic magnet schools and affluent suburban systems have higher percentages of students scoring college-ready on the ACT or by earning a qualifying score (3 or above) on an Advanced Placement test. Advanced Placement (AP) courses are college-level courses taught by high school faculty. International Baccalaureate (IB) courses are similar and also count toward CCR. Other schools, usually cooperating with the local community college, may give most students access to college courses. Many schools encourage enrollment in career technical education courses and reach over 90 percent of students through such offerings. Successful entry into the military and completing an approved youth apprenticeship is also an option.”

This graphic shows the percentage of students in the Birmingham city school district overall who met the various measures of college and career readiness. You also can search for other school systems.

This chart shows the percentage of students at each of the Birmingham city high schools that met the various measures of college and career readiness. You also can search for other school systems.

Read the full PARCA report for more details on Alabama’s latest graduation reports. The report also includes more ways of looking at specific information for each school system.