Mary Scott Hunter represents District 8 on the Alabama State Board of Education. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON COUNTY – Madison County Schools has announced results for the inaugural year of ACT Aspire assessment for students in grades 3-8.

This year, Aspire replaced the Alabama Reading and Math Test (AMRT).

“Data shows that students in grades 3-8 on an average ranked in the top 34th percentile in math and in the top 31st percentile in reading for being college ready,” Geraldine Tibbs said. Tibbs is director of public relations and communications for Madison County Schools.

“Further analytical data shows that 99 percent of Madison County eighth-graders are on track for career readiness,” Gibbs said. “The results of this assessment offer a new baseline for students’ scores.”

Students rated in the following percentiles:

* Grade 3 — Math, 69; reading, 72.

* Grade 4 — Math, 65; reading, 63.

* Grade 5 — Math, 70; reading, 67.

* Grade 6 — Math, 70; reading, 73.

* Grade 7 — Math, 61; reading, 71.

* Grade 8 — Math, 61, reading, 70.

* Madison County Schools average — Math, 66; reading, 69.

The impetus to replace AMRT started in 2010. Alabama State Board of Education recognized the need “to adequately prepare all students for the next stage in their lives … that all students will be ready for college and a career when they graduate from high school,” Gibbs said.

The state board realized “a need to evaluate students’ mastery of more rigorous standards, such as the new Alabama College and Career Ready Standards (CCRS,” Gibbs said.

In her recent newsletter, District 8 state board member Mary Scott Hunter said school administrators will begin to see trend data after next year, following this year as baseline.

“The highest achievement was demonstrated by third-graders. This makes sense because they have had the most sustained rigor in their short number of years in school,” Hunter said. “Transitioning to more rigorous standards and testing has been quite a challenge, but one we have relished.”