Elementary Schools in Fayette County

Fayette County, Alabama is home to two elementary schools—Fayette Elementary School (serving grades PK-4) and Berry Elementary School (serving grades PK-6)—which together educate 889 students in a rural district that ranks in the 60th percentile statewide.

For parents, the standout choice is Berry Elementary School, which has climbed from the 49th to the 70th percentile in just two years and now holds a 4-star rating. Berry outperforms both the district and state averages in most subjects, particularly in 4th-grade math (61.9% proficient vs. 42.1% statewide) and 3rd-grade English (89.1% vs. 64.8% statewide). It also made a remarkable 20-point jump in 4th-grade science in one year. However, Berry has a high chronic absenteeism rate (16.4%) and saw a troubling 18-point drop in 5th-grade math. Meanwhile, Fayette Elementary School has declined from the 55th to the 48th percentile. While Fayette excels in 3rd-grade English (75.4%), it struggles significantly in 4th-grade math (28.7% proficient—far below the state average), and its strong 3rd-grade scores drop sharply by 4th grade, suggesting a transition problem.

The Fayette County district faces a widening gap between its two schools. Berry spends more per student ($10,014 vs. $8,958) and achieves better results despite higher absenteeism, while Fayette has a slightly better student-teacher ratio but lower performance. Both schools exceed state averages in 3rd-grade English, showing strong early literacy foundations. The district should investigate the 33-point 4th-grade math disparity, examine why Berry succeeds despite attendance challenges, and address Fayette's grade-to-grade decline. Without targeted interventions, the achievement gap between these schools is likely to continue growing.