Summary:
Lipscomb, Alabama is served by a single elementary school, Lipscomb Elementary School, which enrolls 221 students in grades PK-5 within the Jefferson County district.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that this is a school with clear strengths and some significant challenges. The standout positive is mathematics in the early grades: 3rd graders posted a 56.25% proficiency rate in 2025-2026, which is more than 11 points above the state average and 25 points above the district average. However, this strength does not carry through to upper grades. By 5th grade, math proficiency plummets to just 16.67%, a staggering 70% drop from 3rd grade and far below both district and state averages. This "5th grade cliff" is the school's most urgent issue. In English, the pattern is reversed: 3rd graders start well below state averages (37.5% vs. 64.75%), but by 5th grade they actually surpass the state average with a 70.27% proficiency rate. This suggests that literacy interventions may be working over time, while math instruction in upper grades needs serious attention. The school also has a very low chronic absenteeism rate of 9.3%, which is excellent given that nearly 74% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
The school's overall state ranking has declined sharply, dropping from the 59th percentile (3 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 34th percentile (2 stars) in 2025-2026. Year-over-year test scores show troubling declines in several areas, including a 63% drop in 5th grade math proficiency and a 33% drop in 3rd grade English. With per-student spending of $12,868, the school is well-funded, yet outcomes are mixed. Parents should ask the school about its math curriculum in grades 4 and 5, teacher turnover in upper elementary, and what specific interventions are planned to reverse the downward ranking trend. The bright spots—strong early math, improving English skills, and excellent attendance—provide a foundation to build upon.
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