Best Public Schools in Mount Vernon, AL

Mount Vernon, Alabama, is served by a single public school, Calcedeaver Elementary School, which educates students from Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade within the Mobile County school district.

For parents considering this school, the most important takeaway is that Calcedeaver Elementary School presents a mixed but intriguing academic profile. The school holds a 2-star rating, placing it in the 43rd percentile statewide, yet this overall rating masks significant subject-specific strengths. The clearest pattern is a contrast between English and Math. In English Language Arts, the school is a standout, particularly in upper grades; 6th graders achieved a 70.97% proficiency rate, which is over 14 points higher than the state average. The school also outperforms district averages in 4th, 5th, and 6th-grade English. However, Math is a clear area of concern, with proficiency rates in 3rd and 4th grade falling below both district and state averages. A notable exception is 6th-grade Math, where the school's 41.94% proficiency rate beats both the district and state. Science performance in 4th grade is solid, matching the state average.

Another key insight is the school's year-over-year volatility, which is common for a small school of 240 students where a few students can skew percentages. For example, 3rd-grade Math proficiency dropped from 52.38% to 27.03% in one year, while 6th-grade Math jumped from 26.32% to 41.94%. This makes it hard to identify stable trends. Despite these swings, the school shows a pattern of improvement in later grades, suggesting it effectively develops student skills over time. With 71.25% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, the school faces significant socioeconomic challenges, yet its chronic absenteeism rate of 11.6% is actually better than both the district and state averages. This positive engagement, combined with a student-teacher ratio of 18.1 and per-student spending of $12,691, indicates a school that, while struggling in some areas, is a relative success story within its district and shows promise for future growth.