Overall, a greater percentage of students in the three local school systems tested at the proficient level in reading, math and science scores than in previous years, according to a federal report card recently made available by the state department of education.

The report card, required by the federal government, is based on 2016-2017 ACT Aspire tests. The state Department of Education posted the data about a month ago.

The tests assess student readiness in English, mathematics, reading, science, and writing.

Statewide for all schools, 38.98 percent of students scored proficient or higher on the reading test.

At Opp City Schools, that number of students testing proficient in reading was 45.36 percent; at Andalusia City Schools 40.29 percent tested proficient; and at Covington County Schools, 38.86 percent did.

Statewide in mathematics, 43.64 percent students scored proficient or higher.

At Opp City Schools, the number of students was 44.99 percent; Andalusia City Schools was 43.96 percent; and Covington County Schools was 37.45 percent.

Statewide, science was the lowest percentage of the three subjects measured, with just 34.72 percent testing proficient.

Andalusia City Schools had the highest percentage in this subject with 40.77 percent proficiency. Covington County Schools with 32.95 percent, and in Opp City Schools, 30.99 percent tested proficient.

Andalusia City Schools Superintendent Ted Watson, said, “Well, everyone wants to make an ‘A’ on a report card, but we came in with a low ‘B’. Either way it is a higher score than most schools in the state. I am very proud of our teachers and our community should be proud of our schools.”

Covington County Schools Superintendent Shannon Driver, said the data primarily is used locally to determine what areas need more focus.

“We do look at the data from this federal test and look at where we are and see what our strengths and weaknesses are so we can improve and look good for the State Report Card,” Driver said.

State report cards are due out at the end of this week.

The state board of education voted to end its contract with ACT Aspire in June 2018.

Opp City Schools Superintendent Michael Smithart, said, “With this ending in June of this year it is going to be interesting to see what they come up with. It is good to know what our starting point is going to be to develop into a much better school.”

The State Report Card will assign a letter grade to the schools based on five components.