Legacy Prep

The Legacy Prep district in Birmingham, Alabama, consists of two schools serving grades K-8: Legacy Prep (elementary, grades K-6, 317 students) and Legacy Prep Intermediate (middle, grades 4-7, 219 students). Both schools serve predominantly low-income families, with 77-84% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, and the district ranks in the 9th percentile statewide, indicating significant academic challenges.

Comparing the two schools, Legacy Prep elementary shows a troubling recent decline: 3rd grade math proficiency fell from 22% to 10% in one year, and English dropped from 47% to 36%. It also struggles with chronic absenteeism at 20.4%, well above the state average of 12%. In contrast, Legacy Prep Intermediate has better attendance (15.3%) despite higher poverty, and its 5th grade English proficiency (47%) is the strongest subject-grade result in the district. However, the intermediate school reveals a devastating "math cliff": proficiency falls from 16% in 4th grade to 0% in 8th grade, meaning no 8th graders meet math standards.

Across both schools, English consistently outperforms math by 2-3 times, and all subjects lag state averages by 20-35 percentage points. The elementary school's year-over-year regression in both subjects is particularly alarming and warrants investigation into curriculum or staffing changes. While the intermediate school's 5th grade literacy success offers a potential model, the complete collapse of upper-grade math suggests cumulative learning gaps that require urgent, targeted intervention. Parents should be aware that while both schools face systemic challenges, the intermediate school shows pockets of strength in literacy and attendance, whereas the elementary school needs immediate attention to reverse its declining trajectory.