Baldwin County reports 2024–25 test gains, unveils secondary math strategic plan

Baldwin County Public Schools staff presented the district's 2024'25 state assessment results at a board work session and described a newly finalized secondary math strategic plan intended to build on recent gains.

The presentation, given by Becky Turner and Tom Hartner and followed by Scotty Keenan's overview of the math plan, showed year'over'year increases on ACAP (grades 3'8), stronger ACT benchmark and average scores in most areas, and all'time highs on several AP metrics.

District staff said the ACAP results show growth across several grade levels. "If you look at seventh grade ELA, 7 percentage point increase. Eighth grade, there's a 6 point increase," Becky Turner said, and she reminded the board that the state test changes year to year so comparisons are not strictly apples'to'apples. Turner also noted the district began above the state average in many areas, which affects how year'to'year color'coded comparisons appear.

On ACT results, staff said benchmark percentages (benchmarks set by ACT, Inc.) increased in four of five subject areas; science declined by 1 percentage point after reaching an all'time high the prior year. The district reported that more students took the ACT in 2024'25 than in previous years. Baldwin County recorded increases in ACT average scores for composite, English, math and writing. District staff highlighted that 126 students scored 30 or higher on the ACT in 2024'25 and that three students earned perfect scores.

Turner and Tom Hartner also presented statewide comparisons and rankings drawn from the Alabama report card (23'24 report card used as the reference for some enrollment figures). In the district'to'district ranking list staff showed, Baldwin County ranked 10th in ELA, 19th in math and 13th in 11th'grade science among the top 20 of 139 Alabama school systems included in that view. Staff said those placements represented movement compared with the prior year (for example, an increase of four spots in ELA and five spots in science).

AP program results were described as all'time highs across multiple measures: number of exams administered, number of AP students, number of passing exams and percent passing. Staff mentioned the district'level percent passing has now surpassed the exceptional, open'note period in 2020.

After the results briefing, Scotty Keenan, identified as the district's secondary math supervisor, presented the new secondary math strategic plan. Keenan read the plan's vision: "Baldwin County Public Schools envisions a high quality data driven secondary math program that empowers all students to become lifelong learners and problem solvers through the balanced integration of conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and application." The plan organizes work into eight categories (teaching and learning; curriculum; access and equity; data and assessment; resources and technology; intervention and extension; professional learning; and leadership) and includes goals, action plans and an implementation guide.

Keenan described the development timeline: a leadership team formed in 2023'24 drafted the plan, the district shared the draft in fall 2024 and piloted elements in spring 2025, and the leadership team revised the plan over the summer. District staff said they will offer a full implementation this school year, allow schools to select quarterly goals aligned to local initiatives, and use scheduled district professional development time for teams to complete action plans and submit evidence and reflections.

Board members asked staff for follow'up data. One board member requested retention and grade'level retention counts (including third grade and early elementary retentions); staff said they would provide that overview. Turner and Hartner also credited recent investments in curriculum and staff support for some of the gains and thanked the board for approving resources earlier in the year.

The work session included brief additional updates on district initiatives (noted for context but not the focus of the presentation): implementation work on an AI analytics product (Nexus), facility construction schedules, and alternative/impact programs at RCF Taylor with expanding enrollments.

The session concluded with procedural business: a motion to enter executive session to discuss pending or anticipated litigation was moved and seconded and certified by counsel; the board chair announced the motion passed and said the group would not reconvene in open session at the work session.

Board staff provided the assessment slides and said more detailed breakdowns and retention data would be distributed to board members.