Best Public Schools in Baileyton, AL

Baileyton, Alabama, is served by a single school, Parkside Elementary School, a Pre-K through 8th grade institution within the Cullman County district, enrolling 379 students in a small-town setting.

With only one school in the area, all attention focuses on Parkside Elementary. The school holds a 2-star rating, ranking in the 49th percentile statewide, a slight dip from its previous 3-star status. Its most impressive achievement is in 8th grade mathematics, where 48.57% of students are proficient—a remarkable 22-point advantage over the state average of 26.36%. This strength extends to 8th grade science (62.86% proficiency) and upper-grade English Language Arts, with 5th grade ELA standing out at 80.49% proficiency, well above the state's 69.53%. However, the school shows a concerning "U-shaped" pattern in math, with a dramatic slump in 5th grade where only 19.51% of students are proficient, nearly 20 points below the state average. This volatility is likely due to small cohort sizes—roughly 40 students per grade—where individual performance can heavily skew percentages. Year-over-year data confirms this, with 5th grade math dropping from 50% to 19.51% proficiency, while 6th and 8th grades saw significant gains.

For parents, the key takeaway is that Parkside offers strong instruction in upper-grade math and science, and consistent ELA performance above state averages across most grades. The primary concern is 5th grade math, which may warrant targeted support. Additionally, the school's chronic absenteeism rate of 13.7% exceeds both district (10.6%) and state (12.0%) averages, which could impact learning. With 54.62% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, the school serves a majority low-income population yet still achieves parity or better in several subjects. While the school's ranking has slipped slightly over three years, its district maintains a solid 3-star rating, suggesting school-specific factors are at play. Parents should consider the school's academic strengths in upper grades while being aware of the 5th grade math challenge and attendance concerns when evaluating this community school.