Tuscaloosa Academy Ninth Graders Earn National PreACT Honors

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Tuscaloosa Academy (TA) announced that its ninth grade class has earned national recognition through ACT's PreACT Rising Stars Awards program, which honors students demonstrating strong early indicators of college readiness. TA freshman Caroline Lucas was top of the class by earning the Distinguished Scholar designation after scoring in the top 3% nationally on the PreACT 8/9 assessment. Additionally, 13% of TA ninth graders were named Rising Scholars, placing in the next 4-10% nationwide, while 55% achieved Early Scholar status, ranking in the next 11-50% nationally.

Why it matters

The PreACT Rising Stars Awards program is an important recognition for high-performing students, as it signals strong preparation for the ACT and college-level coursework. Tuscaloosa Academy's success in this program highlights the school's focus on rigorous instruction and intellectual curiosity, which empowers students to reach high academic benchmarks early.

The details

The PreACT Rising Stars Awards program recognizes high-performing students based on assessment results and readiness for future academic success. At Tuscaloosa Academy, freshman Caroline Lucas earned the Distinguished Scholar designation by scoring in the top 3% nationally on the PreACT 8/9 assessment. Additionally, 13% of TA ninth graders were named Rising Scholars, placing in the next 4-10% nationwide, while 55% achieved Early Scholar status, ranking in the next 11-50% nationally.

• On February 26, 2026, Tuscaloosa Academy announced its ninth grade class had earned national recognition through the PreACT Rising Stars Awards program.

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