Dallas County Schools make high C in latest Alabama State Department of Education report card

Dallas County Schools continued to show growth in the latest Alabama State Accountability Report Card. 

The report card, which was posted to the Alabama State Department of Education website the week before Thanksgiving, gives school systems an overall grade and numerical scores in the areas of academic achievement; student improvement in reading, English and math; career or college readiness; graduation rate; and the percentage of students who miss 18 or more days of school (chronic absenteeism). 

Dallas County Schools earned a C with a score of 79, four points higher than its 2023 score and 10 points above its 2022 D grade. The system increased in every category except the graduation rate, which only decreased slightly to 89.1. Career readiness increased from 69.1 to 77.4 in 2024.  

Dallas County School Superintendent Anthony Sampson pointed out that the system almost made a B, and he said he’s proud that “every school made progress” over the last three years.  

He said he was concerned about the precipitous drop in scores at JE Terry Elementary School, which dropped from 84 to 65 in a year. Sampson said he warned the board of his concerns about the school last year and suggested closing the school and moving the students to other schools, but the board overruled him.  

“They (JE Terry) went from the highest in the district to the lowest,” Sampson said.  

He said he was especially proud of the team at Brantley Elementary School, who brought the school up eight points in “a monumental comeback.” 

 “Afterschool and summer learning programming is working,” Sampson said.  

The report card, which was posted to the Alabama State Department of Education website the week before Thanksgiving, gives school systems an overall grade and numerical scores in the areas of academic achievement; student improvement in reading, English and math; career or college readiness; graduation rate; and the percentage of students who miss 18 or more days of school (chronic absenteeism). 

For comparison purposes, the state of Alabama collectively earned a B with a score of 85. The academic achievement score was 64.5, academic growth was 97, graduation rate was 90, chronic absence was 14.8 and college or career readiness was 84.2 In all 718,716 students attend the state’s public schools.  

Dallas County Schools 
Systemwide score of C with a score of 79. Last year the system earned a C with a score of 75.  
Academic Achievement 43 
Academic Growth 97.3 
Graduation Rate 88.4 
Chronic Absenteeism 26.8 
College and Career Readiness 77.4 

Brantley Elementary School 
Grade of D with a score of 67. Last year the school earned an F with a score of 56 
Academic Achievement 37.7 
Academic Growth 92.4 
Chronic Absenteeism 28.8 

Bruce K. Craig Elementary School 
Grade of C with a score of 71. Last year the school earned an F with a score of 58 
Academic Achievement 34.6 
Academic Growth 98/5 
Chronic Absenteeism 11.5 

Dallas County High School  
Grade of C with a grade of 78. Last year the school earned a C with a score of 76 
Academic Achievement 29.8 
Academic Growth 96.6 
Graduation Rate 90.1 
Chronic Absenteeism 25.5 
College and Career Readiness 89 

JE Terry Elementary School 
Grade D with a score of 65. Last year the school earned a B with a score of 84 
Academic Achievement 53.4 
Academic Growth 65 
Chronic Absenteeism 6.7 

Keith Middle and High School  
Grade C with a score of 76. Last year the school earned a C with a score of 73 
Academic Achievement 31.3 
Academic Growth 100 
Graduation Rate 82.9 
Chronic Absenteeism 20.9 
College and Career Readiness 65.7 

Salem Elementary School 
Grade C with a score of 76. Last year the school earned a D with a score of 65 
Academic Achievement 56.3 
Academic Growth 92.5 
Chronic Absenteeism 20.8 

Southside Primary School 
Grade D with a score of 69. Last year the school earned an F with a score of 57 
Academic Achievement 34.6 
Academic Growth 98.5 
Chronic Absenteeism 26.4 

Tipton Durant Middle School  
Grade D with a score of 68. Last year the school earned a D with a score of 60 
Academic Achievement 35 
Academic Growth 98.3 
Chronic Absenteeism 37.2 

Valley Grande Elementary School 
Grade B with a score of 80. Last year the school earned a C with a score of 75 
Academic Achievement 58.8 
Academic Growth 99.9 
Chronic Absenteeism 21.1 

William R. Martin Middle School 
Grade C with a score of 77. Last year the school earned a C with a score of 76 
Academic Achievement 56.6 
Academic Growth 100 
Chronic Absenteeism 39.3 

Southside High School 
Grade D with a score of 69. Last year the school earned a D with a score of 67 
Academic Achievement 20.9 
Academic Growth 84.4 
Graduation Rate 89.1 
Chronic Absenteeism 40.3 
College and Career Readiness 67.2