Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Leighton Elementary School

Q: Is Leighton Elementary School a good school?

Leighton Elementary School ranks 433 rd of 680 Alabama elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

433^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 680 Alabama Elementary Schools

Better than 36% of Alabama elementary schools

Summary

Leighton Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 375 students in grades PK-6 in Leighton, Alabama. The school is part of the Colbert County School District, which is ranked 69 out of 135 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Leighton Elementary consistently underperforms compared to the Colbert County and Alabama state averages on standardized test scores. For example, in 2024-2025, only 43.24% of 3rd graders were proficient in math, compared to 54.19% in Colbert County and 45.47% statewide. The school also struggles to support certain student subgroups, ranking in the bottom 25% of Alabama elementary schools for White students and African American students. However, it performs better for special education students, ranking in the top 50% of schools. Additionally, Leighton Elementary has high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 14.8% to 25.3% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state average.

Interestingly, Leighton Elementary's performance lags behind that of nearby schools like Colbert Heights Elementary and Hatton Elementary, which are also in the Colbert County district. These schools outperform Leighton on test scores, student subgroup performance, and other key metrics. However, Leighton Elementary spends $12,176 per student, which is higher than the state average but lower than some nearby schools like Weeden Elementary ($14,455 per student) and Hatton Elementary ($13,061 per student). Additionally, the school has a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 14.6, suggesting that class size is not a significant factor in its underperformance.

355

Students ?

13.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,176

Per pupil spending ?

61.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

8100 Old Highway 20
Leighton, AL 35646

(256) 446-8351

District: Colbert County

Students who attend Leighton Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Colbert County High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

60.8%

African American:

17.7%

Hispanic:

10.7%

See top rated Alabama elementary schools

Compare Leighton Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 38th percentile in 2015 → 36th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Alabama average (42% vs 50% meeting standards)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Mathematics scores 10 pts below the Alabama average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school42%

District avg54%

Alabama avg50%

433^rd of 680

Alabama public elementary schools ?

Bottom 36%▼ down 2 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Alabama Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 5Elementary Schools in the Colbert County

69^th of 135Colbert County among Alabama districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	39.0	433 of 680	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.4	421 of 684	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.8	383 of 680	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	21.3	536 of 687	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	23.7	520 of 692	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	18.1	567 of 681	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.5	449 of 680	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2017	40.2	434 of 688	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	39.7	430 of 691	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2015	39.6	426 of 691	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2014	45.6	393 of 695	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2013	58.9	334 of 696	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2012	64.8	261 of 696	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2011	61.2	309 of 709	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2010	68.4	202 of 704	71.3%	★★★★☆
2009	48.9	406 of 696	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	57.2	304 of 698	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2007	41.6	467 of 698	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2006	37.1	495 of 689	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	37.2	497 of 688	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	41.0	402 of 623	35.5%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2019	16.8	404 of 426	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	33.6	441 of 649	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.6	418 of 650	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.2	417 of 645	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	22.4	515 of 656	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	21.7	516 of 656	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	18.8	543 of 646	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	42.9	397 of 640	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2017	40.5	399 of 639	37.6%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	45.9	374 of 660	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	51.9	335 of 670	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.2	192 of 623	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	28.7	488 of 651	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.7	508 of 653	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	19.0	571 of 649	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	35.5	447 of 651	31.3%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	46.3	363 of 651	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.9	394 of 655	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.6	303 of 649	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	22.5	518 of 669	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.6	480 of 669	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	21.0	528 of 650	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.7	454 of 650	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	38.8	410 of 639	35.8%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	47.7	184 of 403	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.6	120 of 395	69.6%	★★★★☆
2023	50.8	148 of 373	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	30.7	249 of 345	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	35.1	270 of 398	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	18.6	363 of 392	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	29.6	250 of 344	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	23.1	452 of 532	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.0	420 of 535	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.2	392 of 528	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	11.6	512 of 540	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	14.6	501 of 539	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	8.3	512 of 529	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	17.9	468 of 508	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	32.6	260 of 369	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Special Education (2025)54th percentile+18 vs school

Male (2025)44th percentile+8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)43rd percentile+7 vs school

Female (2025)32nd percentile-4 vs school

White (2025)15th percentile-21 vs school

African American (2019)5th percentile-12 vs school

By subject vs Alabama (2024-2025) ?

English56%-7 vs state

Science33%-10 vs state

Mathematics30%-10 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Leighton Elementary School and help other families decide.

Rate Leighton Elementary School

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Leighton Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				Summative Assessment Mathematics (2025)				Summative Assessment Science (2025)	Summative Assessment English (2025)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Summative Assessment Mathematics 3rd Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 4th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 5th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 4th Grade	Summative Assessment English 3rd Grade	Summative Assessment English 4th Grade	Summative Assessment English 5th Grade	Summative Assessment English 6th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Leighton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	8100 Old Highway 20	Leighton	35646	Colbert County	Colbert County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 446-8351	355	26	13.8	61.4%	216 (60.8%)	63 (17.7%)	38 (10.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	2 (0.6%)	33 (9.3%)	39	433^rd of 680 public elementary schools	36.3%		41.4	421^st of 684 public elementary schools	38.5%	12	43.2	20.9	26.9	29.2	32.6	70.3	36.4	65.4	52.1	$12,176	$2,081	$10,095
Hatton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	2130 Hatton School Rd	Leighton	35646	Colbert County	Colbert County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 446-5679	236	18	13.2	65.3%	156 (66.1%)	48 (20.3%)	8 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (9.7%)	67.6	215^th of 680 public elementary schools	68.4%		60.5	263^rd of 684 public elementary schools	61.5%	48	58.8	57.1	69.6	26.3	42.9	70.6	64.3	87.0	52.6	$13,061	$1,843	$11,218
Hazlewood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	334 Hazelwood St	Town Creek	35672	Lawrence County	Lawrence County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 685-4020	221	13	17.0	85.1%	90 (40.7%)	108 (48.9%)	7 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (5.9%)	17.3	566^th of 680 public elementary schools	16.8%		6.7	668^th of 684 public elementary schools	2.3%	102	19.2	27.6	6.5	17.4	10.3	34.6	53.3	51.6	30.4	$10,991	$2,077	$8,898
Webster Elementary School	Public	1-2	200 Webster Ave	Muscle Shoals	35661	Colbert County	Muscle Shoals City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 389-2650	234	14	16.4	40.6%	149 (63.7%)	46 (19.7%)	15 (6.4%)	6 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (7.7%)								(n/a)										$13,378	$1,268	$12,075
Howell Graves Preschool	Public	PK-K	3201 Alabama Ave	Muscle Shoals	35661	Colbert County	Muscle Shoals City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 389-2630	356	19	18.7	19.9%	238 (66.9%)	53 (14.9%)	28 (7.9%)	13 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (6.7%)								(n/a)										$11,965	$1,916	$10,013
McBride Elementary School	Public	3-5	1400 Avalon Ave	Muscle Shoals	35661	Colbert County	Muscle Shoals City	No	No	No	No	(256) 389-2610	647	37	17.3	34.2%	447 (69.1%)	87 (13.4%)	55 (8.5%)	22 (3.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (5.4%)	89	55^th of 680 public elementary schools	91.9%		88.5	65^th of 684 public elementary schools	90.5%	10	80.7	67.1	65.4		65.3	77.7	83.3	83.8		$8,031	$197	$7,800
Highland Park Elementary School	Public	1-2	714 Elmhurst St	Muscle Shoals	35661	Colbert County	Muscle Shoals City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 389-2620	236	13	17.8	44.9%	151 (64.0%)	35 (14.8%)	26 (11.0%)	5 (2.1%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (7.6%)								(n/a)										$11,919	$2,319	$9,565
G W Trenholm Primary School	Public	PK, KG-2	601 Joe Wheeler Hwy	Tuscumbia	35674	Colbert County	Tuscumbia City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 389-2940	413	28	14.5	55.9%	247 (59.8%)	115 (27.8%)	14 (3.4%)	1 (0.2%)	6 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (7.3%)								(n/a)										$9,760	$1,698	$8,038
Colbert Heights Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1551 Sunset Dr	Tuscumbia	35674	Colbert County	Colbert County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 381-6132	486	32	15.1	56.0%	429 (88.3%)	9 (1.9%)	25 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (4.7%)	50.2	355^th of 680 public elementary schools	47.8%		55.7	307^th of 684 public elementary schools	55.1%	48	39.0	50.0	24.2	29.7	43.6	62.7	54.8	66.7	62.7	$8,666	$1,990	$6,676
Weeden Elementary School	Public	K-5	400 Baldwin Street	Florence	35630	Lauderdale County	Florence City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 768-2900	477	32	15.1	84.3%	96 (20.1%)	144 (30.2%)	190 (39.8%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (9.4%)	50.6	351^st of 680 public elementary schools	48.4%		56.4	301^st of 684 public elementary schools	56.0%	50	49.4	50.0	37.0		30.8	59.7	52.0	70.4		$14,455	$2,668	$11,763

Frequently Asked Questions about Leighton Elementary School

Is Leighton Elementary School a good school?

Leighton Elementary School ranks 433^rd of 680 Alabama elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Leighton Elementary School?

Students at Leighton Elementary School are 61% White, 18% African American, 11% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races.

How many students attend Leighton Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 355 students attended Leighton Elementary School.

What district is Leighton Elementary School in?

Colbert County

What schools do graduates of Leighton Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Leighton Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Colbert County High School

Rate Leighton Elementary School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

ALAlabama Elementary School Rankings

ALAlabama District Rankings

Schools in Leighton, AL

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Leighton Elementary School!

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Alabama State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.