In late 2021, the Alabama Education Lab, a team of AL.com solution-based journalists who report on all things related to public education in Alabama, used state assessment data to identify a set of schools that are beating the odds. In a series of articles, they are highlighting Alabama’s High Flyer Schools, which are 43 schools that have high achievement despite facing a number of challenges, including high poverty level and low per student spending. Key practices of Alabama’s High Flyer Schools include holding high expectations of students, using data to drive instruction, highlighting student academic success, supporting teachers and students, and engaging support from the community.