Summary:
Dutton, Alabama is home to a single school, Dutton Elementary School, a PK-8 institution serving 201 students in the Jackson County district, which is a standout performer in a rural, predominantly low-income area.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that Dutton Elementary School is a consistently high-achieving, 4-star school that punches well above its weight. Despite 64% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, the school ranks in the top 15% of all Alabama elementary schools, holding an 86th percentile ranking. Its greatest strength is English Language Arts, where every grade level outperforms both the district and state averages, with 8th grade hitting an exceptional 91.7% proficiency—33 points above the state. Science is another hidden gem, with 4th and 8th grade proficiency rates (78.3% and 75%) exceeding state averages by 20+ points. The school also shows a remarkable 8th grade turnaround, with science jumping 52 points and ELA jumping 32 points in a single year, suggesting either a strong cohort or highly effective targeted interventions.
The main area for improvement is 7th grade mathematics, which dipped to 30.8% proficiency—a pattern that mirrors a statewide "middle school slump." However, the school's 8th grade math recovery to 66.7% is notable and not typical of district trends. With a 16:1 student-teacher ratio and a small, tight-knit environment, Dutton Elementary School demonstrates strong vertical alignment in curriculum. Chronic absenteeism (12.6%) is essentially on par with state averages and does not appear to hinder academic success. Overall, this is a school that delivers strong results across nearly all subjects and grade levels, making it a model of academic success in rural Alabama.
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