Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) —  Orange Beach City Schools released its annual State of Education report for the 2025–2026 school year. District officials shared data from the Alabama State Department of Education, the College Board, and the ACT, highlighting academic, athletic, artistic, and safety outcomes. Superintendent Randy Wilkes cautioned that much of the locally compiled data remains preliminary and is embargoed ahead of official state accountability reporting later this fall.

Elementary Milestones

Orange Beach Elementary School earned a state report card score of 99, placing it among Alabama's top 25 public schools out of about 1,400 statewide. To honor students' dedication during testing season, the school hosted an academic pep rally immediately after spring ACAP testing.

Combined ELA proficiency for grades two through six rose from 76% to 92% over time, while math proficiency climbed from 66% to 85%. Fourth-grade science proficiency reached 96.43%—the highest in the district—while sixth-grade science reached 74.07%, up about 10 points from the prior year.

Officials credited the elementary gains to a departmentalized teaching model, math labs for grades four through six, and a structured writing program. Reviewing preliminary fourth-grade science results, Superintendent Wilkes highlighted the hands-on Sea Stars environmental program—where students study local wildlife and bay habitats—as a major driver of engagement.

Supported by grant funding, the district’s prekindergarten program will expand to three fully funded classrooms for the upcoming school year. Kindergarten registration feedback indicated that incoming pre-K students demonstrated strong foundational skills, including readiness for name writing.

Average daily attendance across the K–12 system reached at least 95%, with some grade levels at 97%. Chronic absenteeism at the elementary level dropped to 4.01%, representing about 22 students.

Middle & High School Progress

At the secondary level, the Class of 2026 achieved a 100% state-recognized graduation rate and a 99% federal graduation rate. The College and Career Readiness (CCR) credentialing rate also reached 100%. Principal Chris Shaw described the 2025–2026 school year as record-breaking and credited teachers and staff for student outcomes.

Junior ACT scores rose for the third consecutive year, capped by a 1.1-point gain on the spring assessment. The Class of 2027 junior cohort increased its average composite score from 18.7 in Fall 2023 to 20.6 in Spring 2026. Furthermore, more than 10 juniors scored 30 or higher, representing roughly 10% of the tested class.

Advanced Placement (AP) participation continued to grow: 191 students took 519 AP exams during the year, helping the school elevate its AP standing from bronze to silver. The number of students taking AP exams has tripled recently, and qualifying scores of 3 or higher have nearly quintupled. Dual enrollment participation also expanded, with students completing 636 credit hours in the fall and 602 in the spring.

In middle school language arts, preliminary ELA proficiency for seventh grade was 77.67%, while eighth-grade ELA was 82.24%. Seventh-grade math proficiency fell to 30%—a result Superintendent Wilkes publicly addressed, taking administrative responsibility and emphasizing to parents that the drop required institutional correction. To address learning gaps across the middle grades, the district is deploying targeted intervention schedules and bringing retired veteran educators to serve as math coaches in seventh- and eighth-grade classrooms.

Athletics, Arts & Safety

The athletic department, led by Athletic Director Shane Alexander, posted strong results across multiple sports. Orange Beach High School—serving roughly 650 students in grades seven through 12—won seven of nine possible area championships, secured sectional titles in girls' soccer and softball, and captured state titles in cheer and softball.

The softball program, led by head coach Chris Leonardi, earned the No. 1 national ranking among small-town high schools from MaxPreps, a No. 2 ranking in the national coaches' poll, and a No. 5 overall ranking in MaxPreps standings. Coach Leonardi was named Coach of the Year, and the team produced 23 4A All-State players, three MaxPreps All-Americans, a Player of the Year, and a Pitcher of the Year. The girls' soccer program also reached the final four.

In the fine arts, the marching band grew from 20 to between 50 and 80 participants. The school hosted its inaugural Sounds of the Island band festival, filling one side of the stadium and planning to expand attendance in year two. The festival featured Troy University’s Sound of the South band. Band members continue fundraising through the Shark Shack concession stand for a planned 2027 trip to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The wind ensemble earned superior ratings at the Music Performance Assessments.

The middle and high school campus received the Attorney General's School Safety Award for the second consecutive year. District safety upgrades include upgraded vestibules, enhanced surveillance access, and portable scanning units for stadium and gymnasium events.

Financial Health & Strategic Goals

The MAC community sponsorship program raised more than $1 million from over 150 donors in its first year, supporting academics, arts, and athletics across all grade levels. The upcoming campaign's theme is "All Aboard," with a goal to match or exceed last year's fundraising total.

Chief School Financial Officer Matt Gray reported that operating reserves rose from just over two months in 2023 to more than eight months as of March 2026, totaling more than $16 million. The district operates on an annual budget of about $27 million, with roughly 84% of operating revenues coming from local sources.

Strategic priorities for the coming period include improving middle school math performance, establishing a new strategic plan centered on a "Graduate by Design" framework, and transitioning internal academic benchmarks to align with national standards. Superintendent Wilkes noted that while state guidelines recommend a 12-month operating reserve, the district aims to build an 18-month reserve cushion to ensure long-term stability in the face of potential hurricane disruptions.