Elementary Schools in Coosa County

Central Elementary School is the only elementary school in Coosa County, Alabama, serving grades K-6 with 397 students in a predominantly rural, economically challenged area where over three-quarters of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

For parents considering this school, the most important takeaway is that academic performance is currently declining across most subjects, with mathematics showing the most dramatic drops. Between the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years, 3rd grade math proficiency fell from 30% to just 12.5%, while 5th and 6th grade math proficiency dropped below 8%. The school now trails state averages in math by roughly 28-32 percentage points across most grade levels. English performance is mixed—5th grade English proficiency actually exceeded the state average at 72.31%, but 4th grade English fell to 38.6%, creating a 33-point gap between adjacent grade levels. Science proficiency in 4th grade also declined by 11 points to 28.07%. The school’s state ranking has slipped significantly, dropping from the 31st percentile (2 stars) to the 22nd percentile (1 star) in just one year.

On a more positive note, chronic absenteeism is a clear strength at 10.2%, which is better than both the district (10.7%) and state (12.0%) averages, indicating students are consistently showing up to class. The student-teacher ratio of 15.9:1 is reasonable, and per-student spending of $9,996 is moderate. However, given the high poverty rate (76.57% free/reduced lunch) and the sharp academic declines, parents should be aware that the school appears to be facing significant instructional challenges, particularly in math. The inconsistent performance across grade levels—where one grade excels while another struggles—suggests that teacher effectiveness and curriculum alignment may vary considerably. Families considering this school should ask about math intervention programs, professional development for teachers, and how the district plans to address the recent downward trajectory.