Pelham High School students seeing reading, math success despite declining national data

PELHAM, Ala. ( WBRC ) - While new national data shows high school seniors’ reading and math scores have dropped to their lowest in more than two decades, the principal at Pelham High School says her students are an exception.

“Everything starts at home,” said Principal Sabrina Tutchtone. “We get them here on the bus, but you have to put them on the bus.”

While schools wait for the state report card later this fall, Tutchtone says her students have made strides.

“Actually, our scores are going up this year,” she said. “We are going up in academic achievement, and our reading and math proficiency levels are up!”

Schools leaders tell WBRC reading proficiency scores at Pelham are projected to be up 7% in one year.

They report they are also reducing the number of students at the lowest p