Summary:
Steele, Alabama, is served by a single school, Steele Elementary School, a small rural school within the St Clair County district that enrolls 141 students in grades Pre-K through 6th grade.
For parents considering this school, the standout feature is its exceptional performance in English and Science, paired with a remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of just 1.5%—far better than the district's 9.9% and the state's 12.0%. In the most recent school year, 4th graders achieved an 81.25% proficiency rate in Science, dramatically outpacing the state average of 50.23%, and English proficiency across all grades ranged from 75% to 80.95%, consistently above state averages. The school also shows a strong upward trajectory, improving its statewide ranking from the 60th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 77th percentile in 2024-2025. However, Mathematics is a clear area of concern, particularly in 5th grade, where only 18.75% of students were proficient—a stark contrast to the 50% proficiency seen in 6th grade. This "5th grade math slump" appears to be a grade-specific issue rather than a school-wide problem, as 3rd and 6th graders both exceed state math averages.
With over half of the student body (54.61%) eligible for free or reduced lunch, the school serves a predominantly economically disadvantaged population, yet still achieves above-average results in English and Science. The student-teacher ratio of 14.8 allows for relatively small class sizes, and per-student spending is $12,340. The combination of high student engagement, strong academic performance in two core subjects, and a positive upward trend in rankings makes Steele Elementary School a solid choice for families, though parents of incoming 5th graders may want to pay extra attention to math support and instruction.
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