Summary:
The city of Selma, Alabama, is served by 13 schools across the Selma City and Dallas County districts, covering elementary through high school for roughly 3,300 students in an area where high poverty rates are a pervasive challenge.
If you are looking for a bright spot, Meadowview Elementary School is the clear standout. It ranks in the 31st percentile statewide, the highest in either district, and is the only school to earn 2 stars. Its 3rd and 4th grade math proficiency rates (40.91% and 41.67%) nearly match the state average, and its chronic absenteeism rate of 8.9% is well below the district norm. Payne Elementary School also deserves attention: despite having the second-highest poverty rate (96.34%), it boasts the second-lowest absenteeism (4.4%) and exceeds the state average in 3rd grade math (50%). On the other end, Clark Elementary School suffered a catastrophic collapse, dropping from the 23rd to the 1st percentile in one year, with 3rd grade math falling from 53.33% to 5.56% proficiency.
The secondary schools face a math crisis. At The RBHudson STEAM Academy, only 0.8% of 8th graders are proficient in math, while Tipton Durant Middle School reports 0% proficiency in both 7th and 8th grade math. High school results are similarly low: Selma High School posts 6.8% math proficiency and an 86.6% graduation rate, while Southside High School has just 3.85% math proficiency and a 78.3% graduation rate. Absenteeism worsens with age, climbing from under 18% in elementary schools to nearly 29% at Tipton Durant. Notably, higher spending does not guarantee better results—Sophia P Kingston Elementary School spends over $13,000 per student yet ranks in the 14th percentile, while Meadowview spends less and achieves far more.
Thank you for your feedback!