Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Orange Beach City Schools has established itself as one of Alabama’s top-performing districts, earning recognition in newly released results from the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA). The three-year-old system ranked second overall in the state for academic proficiency while leading in science performance and showing some of the most significant gains across multiple subjects.

According to statewide ACAP testing, 81 percent of Orange Beach students in grades three through eight scored proficient in math, English Language Arts, and science. The district’s strongest results came in science, where fourth and eighth graders posted the highest proficiency scores in Alabama. Math performance ranked second overall, while English Language Arts placed fourth statewide.

Orange Beach’s gains represent a steady climb from the previous year. Science proficiency improved from third place to first, math rose from third to second, and ELA advanced from seventh to fourth. Proficiency growth included increases of 9 percent in ELA, 10 percent in math, and 19 percent in science. Several English sub-areas also reported proficiency rates above 90 percent.

Superintendent Randy Wilkes credited the results to a hands-on learning model and student engagement. “To see our students rank first in the state in science proficiency is a testament to their curiosity, effort, and the power of our approach to learning,” he said.

Elementary Principal Dr. Mary Catherine Law highlighted the district’s “full-circle learning” approach, which combines classroom lessons with programs like the Sea, Sand, and Stars Environmental Learning Center and partnerships with coastal resources. Middle and High School Principal Chris Shaw emphasized teacher-student collaboration, saying teamwork in the classroom has been a key factor in the district’s rapid success.

With strong showings in science, math, and ELA, Orange Beach City Schools has moved into the upper tier of Alabama’s public school systems. Officials say the results demonstrate that significant academic growth is possible in a short period, even for a newly formed district.