Summary:
Stapleton, Alabama is home to a single elementary school, Stapleton School, which serves grades PK through 6 and enrolls 203 students as part of the Baldwin County district.
For parents considering this school, the standout finding is that Stapleton School is a clear leader in English Language Arts and Science, while math presents a more mixed picture. In the 2025-2026 school year, 4th and 5th grade English proficiency rates were 75% and 80%, respectively, outpacing state averages by more than 10 points. Science is a hidden gem, with 4th graders hitting 68.75% proficiency—a remarkable 18.5 points above the state average and the largest year-over-year gain of any subject. However, math tells a different story, especially in upper grades. While 3rd through 5th graders hover near or above state averages, 6th grade math proficiency plummets to just 21.74%, which is 13.5 points below the state average. This "upper grade cliff" suggests that math instruction or curriculum alignment may need attention as students advance.
The school also shows notable year-to-year volatility, particularly in 6th grade, where English scores swung from 89.47% proficient in 2024-2025 down to 56.52% in 2025-2026. With only about 29 students per grade, these swings are highly sensitive to individual performance. On a positive note, the school environment appears healthy: chronic absenteeism is just 9.7% (better than both district and state averages), and the student-teacher ratio of 14.6:1 supports individualized attention. With a free/reduced lunch rate of 47.78%, the school serves a moderately diverse socioeconomic population yet still outperforms state averages in most subjects. Overall, Stapleton School is a strong choice for families prioritizing literacy and science, though parents of rising 6th graders may want to ask about math support and intervention strategies.
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