Summary:
The city of Boaz, Alabama, is served by 7 schools—5 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high school—spanning grades PK-12 across two districts: Boaz City and Etowah County, with roughly 3,373 students enrolled.
For parents, the standout school in the area is Whitesboro Elementary School, which ranks in the 82nd percentile statewide—the highest of any school here—with 5th grade English proficiency at 83.93% and math at 66.07%, both well above state averages. It also has the lowest poverty rate (42.79% free/reduced lunch) and the lowest chronic absenteeism among its peers. In contrast, Carlisle Elementary School is the area's biggest concern, ranking in the 43rd percentile with 5th grade math proficiency at just 13.16% and the highest chronic absenteeism at 15.7%. Within Boaz City, Boaz Middle School shows a dramatic "6th grade peak"—math proficiency at 53.89% in 6th grade, then a 38-point drop to 15.98% in 7th grade—while Boaz High School struggles with a 27.4% chronic absenteeism rate, nearly double the district average, and test scores near or below state averages.
Notably, Boaz Elementary School (PK-1) spends the most per student ($11,138) but has no test data, while Corley Elementary School (2-3) spends the least ($8,852) and shows below-average 3rd grade math (27.04%). Boaz Intermediate School (4-5) shows mixed results, with 5th grade math at 46.45% but 4th grade lagging at 33.51%. The two districts rank nearly identically statewide (Boaz City at 55th percentile, Etowah County at 57th), yet the gap between Whitesboro and Carlisle within Etowah County is stark. Overall, parents should note that high achievement is possible here—as Whitesboro proves—but transition points (especially 6th-to-7th grade and into high school) and chronic absenteeism are key challenges to watch.
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