Alabama School Earns Perfect Score Second Year Running

Students at Eichold-Mertz Magnet School of Math, Science and Technology danced through the streets Friday morning, celebrating a rare achievement that puts their hard work on full display.

The Mobile school earned a perfect score on the Alabama State Report Card for the second year in a row. Only a handful of schools across the state reach this milestone once, making back-to-back perfect scores especially remarkable.

Principal Azure Wells credits the win to teachers who show up ready to teach from the first bell to the last. "My teachers come in, they teach bell to bell every day," Wells said. "We're busy building relationships, we're strengthening instruction."

The Alabama State Report Card measures schools on student achievement, academic growth, graduation rates, and college readiness. Scoring perfectly across all these areas requires consistency that's tough to maintain year after year.

Wells emphasizes that the school focuses on being intentional with every lesson and every student interaction. The approach clearly works, turning what could feel like routine schoolwork into measurable progress that students can see in their own growth.

The Ripple Effect

The celebration wasn't just about test scores. It recognized something bigger: proof that investing in education pays off for entire communities.

Wells made sure to thank everyone who contributes to student success, from teachers and staff to community partners. "We could not do this alone, this is definitely a village situation," she said.

For the students marching in Friday's parade, the celebration felt earned. They've watched their teachers arrive early and stay late. They've pushed through challenging assignments. Now they're seeing the results of that dedication reflected back at them in the form of the state's highest possible rating.

The parade turned an academic achievement into a shared community moment. Parents lined the streets. Music played. Students cheered for each other and for the teachers who believed in them.

Other schools in Alabama can look to Eichold-Mertz as a model for what sustained excellence looks like. The school's formula isn't complicated: dedicated teachers, engaged students, and a community that shows up to support both.

When students see their hard work recognized with a street party, they learn an important lesson about effort and reward. When teachers see their dedication celebrated publicly, they're reminded why they chose this profession. And when a community comes together to cheer for academic achievement, everyone wins.