Elementary Schools in Guntersville City

The Guntersville City school district in Alabama is home to two elementary schools—Guntersville Elementary School (serving grades PK-2) and Cherokee Elementary School (serving grades 3-5)—that together educate about 873 students in a district ranked 23rd out of 139 in the state with a 4-star rating.

For parents, the standout school academically is Cherokee Elementary School, which consistently outperforms state averages by wide margins. In 2025-26, Cherokee's 5th graders posted an 80.17% English proficiency rate (10.64 points above the state), and 4th graders achieved a remarkable 71.09% math proficiency—a 29-point advantage over the state average. English scores are uniformly strong across all grades (76.56% to 80.17%), suggesting a school-wide literacy focus. Math shows a notable "3rd grade dip" (56.72%) before rebounding strongly in 4th and 5th grades. Meanwhile, Guntersville Elementary School serves younger students without standardized test data but offers a lower student-teacher ratio (15.6:1 vs. Cherokee's 19.3:1) and higher per-student spending ($10,969 vs. $9,913), reflecting the greater staffing needs of early childhood education. Both schools serve populations where roughly half of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, yet Cherokee still achieves proficiency rates 10-29 points above state averages—a sign of effective instruction despite socioeconomic challenges.

Chronic absenteeism is a mixed picture: Cherokee's rate (11.1%) is below the state average (12.0%), while Guntersville's (12.9%) slightly exceeds it, though both beat the district average of 14.6%. The higher rate at Guntersville likely reflects younger children's susceptibility to illness-related absences. Science is a relative growth area at Cherokee (61.72% proficiency vs. 50.23% state), but it's the smallest advantage among subjects. The two-school feeder pattern appears to work well, with students transitioning smoothly from Guntersville to Cherokee and maintaining academic momentum. For parents, this district offers strong, equitable outcomes, with Cherokee's exceptional math and English results being the clear highlight.