Summary:
Pelham Ridge and Pelham Oaks are the two elementary schools serving grades PK-5 in the Pelham City district, a top-30% Alabama district located in the Birmingham suburbs. Both schools are similar in size (783 and 750 students) and share a clear strength in English, but they diverge in recent momentum, math performance, and spending efficiency.
Pelham Ridge is currently the stronger and more stable school. It ranks 284th in Alabama (59th percentile) versus Pelham Oaks at 311th (55th percentile), and it has improved its ranking over the past two years while Pelham Oaks has dropped 104 spots. Pelham Ridge also posts lower chronic absenteeism (4.0% vs. 5.3%), a lower poverty rate (48.4% vs. 53.6% free/reduced lunch), and spends about $1,000 less per student ($9,196 vs. $10,228). In 2025-2026, Pelham Ridge leads in 4th grade math (41.13% vs. 36.03%), 4th grade science (58.06% vs. 53.68%), and 5th grade English (79.26% vs. 76.38%). Pelham Oaks, however, had a stronger historical peak (207th in 2023-2024) and outperformed Pelham Ridge in 4th grade math and science the prior year, suggesting its current decline may be cohort-driven.
Both schools share a critical weakness: math proficiency lags state averages at nearly every grade level, with 5th grade math the lowest point (34.07% at Pelham Ridge, 34.92% at Pelham Oaks). English, by contrast, is a district strength—both schools exceed state averages in all grades, and 5th grade English is their best subject. Chronic absenteeism is remarkably low (4-5% vs. 12% statewide), and the district overall outperforms the state in most subjects. The spending paradox is notable: Pelham Oaks spends more per student yet achieves lower outcomes, though it also serves a higher-poverty population. For parents, Pelham Ridge offers better current results and efficiency, while Pelham Oaks shows potential but needs targeted math support and stability.
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