Mountain Brook Students Excel on State and National Assessments

Mountain Brook Schools students posted exceptional results on state and national tests during the 2024–2025 school year, continuing the district’s tradition of academic excellence.
Strong Results on ACAP
Each spring, students in grades 2–8 take the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP) in reading and math, while students in grades 4, 6, and 8 are also tested in science. Mountain Brook students consistently scored higher than the state averages in every subject, showing that our educators are effectively preparing our children with the skills they need.
ACAP English: Mountain Brook students exceeded the state average by 40% in all grade levels.
ACAP Math: An average of 82% of Mountain Brook students in all grades met the benchmark in mathematics and an average of 35% of Mountain Brook students exceeded the benchmark.
ACAP Science: Mountain Brook students scored three times the state average or greater in each grade level.
ACT College Readiness
High school students also demonstrated strong college readiness. Sophomores took the PreACT in the fall, and juniors completed the ACT with Writing in the spring. Mountain Brook’s average ACT with writing scores (25.1) were once again well above state (18.0) and national (19.6) averages, confirming that students are on track for college and career success.
Mountain Brook students often take the ACT multiple times and by the time each class graduates, their grade ACT average is even higher than this number.
National Merit and PSAT
The district had 10 students named National Merit Semifinalists in 2025, an honor earned by scoring among the top students in the nation on the PSAT. This means ten students scored between 1400-1520. Sophomores and juniors also used the exam as practice for the SAT and as a valuable step in preparing for college entrance.
Mountain Brook High School continued its tradition of exceeding the national average on the PSAT. MBHS students averaged 1086 last year compared to the national average of 949.
Advanced Placement Courses
Mountain Brook High School offered 27 Advanced Placement (AP) courses last year. These classes give students a chance to tackle college-level work and earn credit before graduation. A remarkable 91-percent of Mountain Brook students scored a 3 or higher on their AP exams, meaning they can apply those credits toward college. That is the highest percentage among MBHS students over the past four years. Last year, MBHS administered a total of 1,212 AP exams to 313 students.
“We don’t hang our hat on test scores each year; however, we are pleased with the results from our students and their ability to take their classroom learning and succeed in a testing environment,” Superintendent Dicky Barlow said. “We want to ensure that each one of our students have access and opportunity to do his or her best in every aspect of every day. We look forward to continuing and building on the success of every student throughout this year.”
Click here for the entire 2025 Student Assessment Report