Summary:
The city of Leeds, Alabama, is served by the Leeds City school district, which includes four schools—Leeds Primary School (PK-1), Leeds Elementary School (2-5), Leeds Middle School (6-8), and Leeds High School (9-12)—serving roughly 2,271 students.
The clear standout is Leeds High School, which earns a 4-star rating and ranks in the 71st percentile statewide. Its 95.2% graduation rate is well above the state average, and it has improved its ranking for three consecutive years. The most dramatic story, however, is Leeds Elementary School, which jumped from the 47th to the 60th percentile in a single year, driven by massive gains in 4th grade math (up 24 points) and science (up 23 points). This suggests targeted interventions are working. In contrast, Leeds Middle School struggles most, particularly in math, where 7th grade proficiency sits at just 12.7%—nearly 12 points below the state average. Leeds Primary School performs solidly in early reading, with 3rd graders exceeding state averages by over 8 points.
Across the district, elementary reading is a clear strength, but that advantage fades by middle school. The high school shows a notable "science bounce," with 11th grade science proficiency exceeding the state by nearly 5 points. Chronic absenteeism is a hidden challenge, with the primary (15.8%) and elementary (15.5%) schools exceeding the state rate of 12.0%, while the middle and high schools actually perform better than the district average. Resource allocation also raises questions: the high school spends over $1,600 more per student than the elementary school, yet the elementary school produces stronger test scores. Overall, the district is improving, but the middle school math slump is the critical area needing attention. If the elementary school's successful strategies could be replicated there, Leeds could see substantial gains across all grade levels.
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