Summary:
The five elementary schools in the Florence City district in Alabama serve grades K-5 or K-6, with enrollments ranging from 187 students at Kilby Laboratory School to 906 at Forest Hills School, and the district overall earns a 3-star rating.
There is a dramatic performance gap between schools. Kilby Laboratory School is the clear standout, ranking 17th in the state (98th percentile) with a 5-star rating and exceptional proficiency rates—94% of 3rd graders are proficient in math, and 90% of 4th graders are proficient in science. Forest Hills School is the most consistent traditional public school, ranking 132nd (81st percentile) with a 4-star rating and strong English scores (81% of 5th graders proficient). At the other end, Hibbett Elementary School ranks 475th (31st percentile) with a 2-star rating, while Weeden Elementary School and Harlan Elementary School fall in between, ranking in the 42nd and 56th percentiles respectively.
Key factors beyond test scores help explain these differences. Chronic absenteeism shows a clear inverse relationship with performance: Kilby Laboratory School has just 7.2% chronic absenteeism, while Hibbett Elementary School has the highest rate at 18.2%. Interestingly, higher spending does not guarantee better results—Weeden Elementary School spends the most per student ($14,455) but performs below Forest Hills School, which spends just $10,545. Science proficiency is a district-wide challenge, with Hibbett Elementary School at just 17.86% proficiency compared to the state average of 50.23%. For parents, Kilby Laboratory School and Forest Hills School clearly offer the strongest academic outcomes, while Hibbett Elementary School may benefit from additional support and attendance interventions.
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