MADISON – For the second consecutive year, Madison City Schools has earned an A in all categories on the Alabama State Report Card.

“I am pleased to report that our system earned an A for the second year in a row. We are one of 15 districts to earn an overall A and one of only six to earn As at each school,” MCS Superintendent Robert V. Parker said.

Alabama State Department of Education released the statistics for the “A-F Report Card” as one component in the Accountability System Section of the Alabama Unified Report or AUR. The department assigns a letter grade for each school/school system.

“You all know I like to brag when it comes to talking about our kids and all As are outstanding, but a letter grade does little to show what occurs in our schools each day,” Parker said. “A school system is comprised of many parts so the credit goes to students, teachers, administration, instructional team members, parents and all the support services that create such a positive environment.”

Parker repeated his opinion after the report card’s release in 2017. “We welcome assessments any day. But the most accurate measure of our effectiveness is how well we are preparing our kids for their future,” he said.

By visiting Madison each week, Parker realizes the positive, progressive scenarios that permeate the school district. “So we celebrate this with the understanding that a letter grade is only a symbol,” Parker said.

Parker said that he and Madison Board of Education pledge “to never become complacent where we are. We will constantly seek ways to improve. We remain committed to assuring that no matter where one lives in Madison, they are zoned to a quality school.”

Overall rankings for local districts included Huntsville City Schools with a composite grade of C and score of 77; Madison County Schools, B and 86; and Athens City Schools, B and 80.

State Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric Mackey said the compilation of this data is not only in keeping with federal and state guidelines but provides a window into Alabama’s public education system’s standings.

Mackey described the school rankings on the State Report Card as “a snapshot in time. When stacked together year after year, similar to snapshots of your family, these pictures of school academic performance can certainly can be used to monitor academic progress and growth.”

For more information, visit alsde.edu.