All Posts - Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama

Houston County: Building A System for Success

By Thomas Spencer on April 2nd, 2026 in , ACAP, K-12 Education, Keys to Success : in Education

The Houston County School System ranks 129th out of 140 school systems in Alabama in per-pupil expenditures. More than half Read the full release.

Drop in International Migration Slows Net Population Growth in Most of Alabama Counties

By Thomas Spencer on March 31st, 2026 in , U.S. Census Analysis : in Quality of Life, State & Local Government, Workforce Development

Decreasing immigration from abroad slowed population growth across Alabama’s counties in 2024 and 2025, though suburban counties and growth magnets Read the full release.

ACT Scores Edge Down; Struggle to Recover from the Pandemic Continues

By Thomas Spencer on March 16th, 2026 in , K-12 Education : in Education, Education & Workforce Development

The average ACT score for 2025 Alabama public high school graduates decreased slightly compared to 2024, stalling what had been Read the full release.

Population Growth Slows As Immigration is Curtailed

By Thomas Spencer on January 29th, 2026 in , U.S. Census Analysis : in Quality of Life, Workforce Development

Population growth in Alabama and across the country has slowed, particularly when it comes to immigrants coming from abroad, according Read the full release.

Keys to Success in College and Career Readiness

By Thomas Spencer on January 27th, 2026 in , College and Career Readiness, College-Going Rates, Higher Education, K-12 Education, Keys to Success : in Education, Education & Workforce Development, Public Education, State & Local Government, Workforce Development

This spring, all Alabama high school graduates will have to earn a marker of college and/or career readiness in order Read the full release.

PARCA Partners with VOICES on the 2025 Alabama Kids Count Data Book

By parcaadmin on January 23rd, 2026 in , K-12 Education, Kids Count Data Book, Public Health, Public Safety : in Education & Workforce Development, Public Education, Public Health, Quality of Life, State & Local Government

VOICES for Alabama’s Children published the 2025 Alabama Kids Count Data Book yesterday. For the 10th year in a row, PARCA worked with Read the full release.

Higher Expectations Set and Met

By parcaadmin on January 6th, 2026 in , BEA, K-12 Education : in Education, Education & Workforce Development, Public Education

The Business Education Alliance of Alabama (BEA), with PARCA as its research partner, has released its 2026 report, HIGHER EXPECTATIONS Read the full release.

How Alabama Taxes Compare, 2025

By parcaadmin on December 30th, 2025 in , State & Local Government, State Government, Taxes : in Public Finance, State & Local Government

Each year, PARCA uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of State and Local Financesto compare Alabama’s tax Read the full release.

New Form Clouds Picture of Public School Enrollment Trends

By Thomas Spencer on December 19th, 2025 in , K-12 Education : in Education, Education & Workforce Development, Public Education

A federally required change in reporting on student race and ethnicity in Alabama public schools has led to a precipitous Read the full release.

Mapping Alabama’s Public-Nonprofit Partnership

By parcaadmin on December 2nd, 2025 in : in Government Structure, Quality of Life, State & Local Government

Mapping Alabama’s Public–Nonprofit Partnership examines how Alabama’s nonprofit sector functions as an essential partner in the delivery of public services. Read the full release.