Birmingham City Schools is investigating test score irregularities in two of the district’s 43 schools, Wilkerson Middle School and Oliver Elementary, according to a statement from Superintendent Mark Sullivan released Friday afternoon.

Sullivan said the distict has reported the irregularities to the Alabama State Department of Education. Officials believe there were issues with standardized test scores at the two schools, but did not specify which years or educators may be under investigation. Both schools demonstrated large shifts in test scores reported from 2022 to 2023.

“We anticipate an investigation by ALSDE,” Sullivan said. “The Birmingham Board of Education will support the investigation, and the district will provide any requested documents. If the investigation reveals any improprieties, the board will take appropriate action.

“Our school district has made significant strides in student achievement, and transparency is central to the progress we have achieved,” Sullivan said. “We take our responsibility to our students very seriously. Once the state review is complete, we will make the report public and detail any applicable actions in response to the findings.”

Year over year, Oliver Elementary and Wilkerson Middle both saw large shifts in English, math and science proficiency.

From 2022-23, Oliver Elementary proficiency levels shifted from:

• 48% to 28% in English language arts,
• 39% to 10% in math, and
• 63% to 12% in science.

From 2022-23, Wilkerson Middle proficiency levels shifted from:

• 22% to 33% in English language arts,
• 2% to 28% in math, and
• 10% to 15% in science.

Read more Ed Lab: See how your school district stacks up in math, science, reading.

State Superintendent Eric Mackey said the department is waiting for the results of Birmingham City Schools’ investigation. “We have nothing more to add until their investigation is complete.”

Here’s a look at Birmingham schools’ test scores for 2023 and 2022. ELA is an abbreviation for English language arts. Click here if you are unable to see the table below.

Scores from the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program, or ACAP, were released Aug. 1. According to the Department of Education, school officials have had the results since mid-July.