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Escambia County, Ala. elementary school students got some inspirational messages as they took the ACAP (Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program) test recently.

The test is for students in grades 2-8, and grades students in English language arts, reading, math and science.

In 2022, Flomaton Elementary had the county’s best score of 85 (which includes the city system), but there’s still room for improvement.

“This test is so important because it measures students’ mastery of grade level standards and content,” FES Principal Courtney McBride said. “It also determines student’s grade level placement (for third grade students according to the criteria in the Alabama Literacy Act), designing specialized instruction, setting learning goals, and gives us a clear picture of what needs to be our focus for the following academic year. A good score indicates that the school is hard working, builds a positive culture and climate for students, staff, parents and community, and indicates success for students in the years to come. It also fosters a great amount of pride, knowing that what we are delivering to our students on a daily basis is making a difference in their lives.”

McBride added that they have implemented changes in the classroom.

“We have a new reading program this year,” she said. “Its focus has been increasing the volume of reading in students and challenging students’ reading when reading grade level or difficult texts. We have also adopted a new math intervention program, which targets student deficiencies in the areas of numbers and operations and fractions. Our data from last year indicated that our students needed more support in both of these areas.”

The test results for the second and third grades will arrive in May, while other classes will receive grades during the summer.