Summary:
Foley, Alabama is home to three large elementary schools—Florence B Mathis Elementary, Foley Elementary School, and Magnolia School—all serving grades PK-6 within the Baldwin County district, which ranks in the top quarter of Alabama districts despite these schools sitting in the lower half of state rankings.
For parents, the standout choice academically is Magnolia School, which holds the highest state ranking (442nd) and is the only school to maintain a 2-star rating for three straight years. It also showed the biggest year-over-year gains, especially in English, where 4th grade proficiency jumped from 46.72% to 60.16% and 6th grade reached 61.03%—actually beating the state average. Florence B Mathis Elementary is the most concerning, with the lowest ranking (455th), a prior 1-star rating, and the worst 5th grade math score in the area at just 16.55% proficient. Foley Elementary School is the steady middle option, with nearly identical rankings over three years (456th, 459th, 461st) and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 9.5%.
The biggest red flag across all three schools is mathematics. Every grade level trails district and state averages significantly, with 5th grade being a particular crisis—proficiency ranges from 14.84% to 24.43% versus a 43.15% district average. English is a relative strength, especially at Magnolia School, where 4th and 6th grade scores exceed state norms. Interestingly, Foley Elementary spends the most per student ($10,214) yet ranks lowest, while Magnolia spends less ($9,815) and gets better results—suggesting spending efficiency matters. Also notable: Florence B Mathis posted a remarkable 18.92-point jump in 4th grade science, nearly matching the state average, proving targeted interventions can work quickly.
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