Best Public Schools in Southside, AL

Southside, Alabama is served by the Etowah County school district and contains just two schools: Southside Elementary School (grades PK-5) and Southside High School (grades 9-12), with no middle school in the city limits, meaning students in grades 6-8 must attend school outside Southside proper.

Southside Elementary School is the clear standout, ranking 53rd out of 686 elementary schools in Alabama (92nd percentile, 5-star rating) and showing a remarkable upward trajectory from 113th to 94th to 53rd over the past three years. Its students dramatically outperform district and state averages: 91-93% of 3rd-5th graders are proficient in English versus 65-70% statewide, and 3rd grade math proficiency sits at 73.5% versus 44.9% statewide. The school also boasts an excellent 6.1% chronic absenteeism rate, less than half the district rate. In contrast, Southside High School ranks 143rd out of 380 high schools (62nd percentile, 3-star rating) and has been declining from 93rd to 130th to 143rd over the same period. While the high school maintains a strong 95.4% graduation rate, its 11th grade math proficiency is just 25% (below the 27.2% state average), and its chronic absenteeism rate of 22.2% is nearly double the state rate.

The most striking finding is the performance cliff between the two schools: while the elementary school excels, the high school struggles, and this gap is likely compounded by the missing middle school that creates a structural disruption for students in grades 6-8. Both schools spend nearly identically per student ($7,926 vs. $7,930), yet outcomes differ dramatically, suggesting school culture and engagement—not funding—drive the differences. The high school's math and science scores actually improved this year, yet its ranking fell, indicating other schools are improving faster. For parents, the elementary school is among the best in the state, but the high school's high absenteeism and declining trajectory are urgent concerns, especially as the current cohort of high-achieving elementary students prepares to transition through a middle school outside the city.