Summary:
The city of Wilmer, Alabama, is served by three public elementary schools—J E Turner Elementary, Wilmer Elementary School, and Tanner Williams Elementary School—all part of the Mobile County school district and serving grades PK through 5.
There is a clear performance gap between the schools. J E Turner Elementary is the standout academic leader, ranking in the 80th percentile statewide for 2025-2026—a remarkable jump from the 57th percentile just two years earlier. Its proficiency rates are exceptional, with 5th-grade math at 73.68% versus the state average of 39.06%. Tanner Williams Elementary is a close second, holding a 4-star rating (77th percentile) and posting strong English scores, with 78.38% of 5th graders proficient. It also has the lowest student-teacher ratio (15.5) and the lowest percentage of students on free/reduced lunch (48.68%). In contrast, Wilmer Elementary School trails significantly, ranking in the 42nd percentile. Its math proficiency is particularly concerning—only 17.19% of 3rd graders were proficient in 2025-2026—and it has the highest rate of economic need at 71.56%.
Despite these disparities, all three schools share a positive trait: chronic absenteeism is below both district (12.8%) and state (12.0%) averages, with Wilmer Elementary actually having the lowest rate at 8.8%. This suggests attendance is not the issue. J E Turner also shows that rapid improvement is possible, making it a model for success. Meanwhile, Wilmer Elementary demonstrates relative strength in 5th-grade English (73.08% proficient, above the state average), offering a potential foundation to build upon. Per-student spending is similar across all three schools, ranging from $9,846 to $10,125, so the differences in outcomes are not tied to funding levels.
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