Summary:
The city of Wetumpka, Alabama, is served by six schools within the Elmore County school district, enrolling roughly 4,500 students across elementary, middle, high, and virtual grade levels, with the district earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 71st percentile statewide.
For parents, the most striking pattern is a clear performance divide between the Redland and Wetumpka clusters. Redland Elementary School is a standout, with 3rd grade English proficiency at 90.5% and math at 70.8%, outpacing Wetumpka Elementary School by 20-30 points in most subjects. Similarly, Redland Middle School is the district's academic powerhouse, ranking in the 86th percentile statewide, with 5th grade math proficiency (75.4%) nearly double the district average. In contrast, Wetumpka Middle School struggles, with the highest chronic absenteeism (17.7%) and the lowest academic rankings. Wetumpka High School is a rising star, jumping from the 70th to 92nd percentile in one year, with 11th grade proficiency rates exceeding state averages by 10-15 points in every subject. EDGE Virtual School presents a unique challenge: it has the highest free/reduced lunch rate (62.9%) and a 38:1 student-teacher ratio, yet boasts exceptionally low chronic absenteeism (0.6%) and competitive English scores in early grades.
Key takeaways include a sharp decline in math proficiency from 5th to 8th grade across all middle schools—a 37-point drop at Redland Middle—suggesting a systemic curriculum issue. English/language arts is a district-wide strength, with most schools exceeding state averages. However, the graduation rate at Wetumpka High (87.1%) lags the state (91.5%) despite strong test scores, and per-student spending does not predict performance, as Redland Elementary outperforms Wetumpka Elementary while spending less. Socioeconomic factors appear closely tied to outcomes, with Redland schools having the lowest free/reduced lunch rates and the highest achievement.
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