Elementary Schools in Houston County

The Houston County school district in Alabama is home to five elementary schools—Rehobeth Primary School, Ashford Elementary School, Wicksburg Elementary School, Cottonwood Elementary School, and Webb Elementary School—serving roughly 2,986 students from pre-kindergarten through grades 3 to 6, depending on the school. The district ranks in the top 20% of Alabama districts with a 4-star rating, and all schools collectively outperform state averages in math, English, and science, with particularly strong results in early-grade instruction.

For parents, the standout choice is Wicksburg Elementary School, which earns a 5-star rating and ranks 46th in the state (93rd percentile). It leads the district in nearly every subject—3rd grade math proficiency is 94.37%, a staggering 49.5 points above the state average—and has the lowest chronic absenteeism (1.4%) and lowest poverty rate (38.52% free/reduced lunch). Meanwhile, Webb Elementary School is the district’s overachiever: despite having the highest poverty rate (72.79%) and smallest enrollment (419 students), it ranks 77th statewide (89th percentile) with strong 4th and 5th grade math scores, the best student-teacher ratio (14.5:1), and the lowest chronic absenteeism (1.2%). On the other end, Cottonwood Elementary School is the area of concern, ranking lowest in the district (170th statewide) with 5th grade math proficiency at just 38.33% and the highest chronic absenteeism (4.9%), though still well below the state’s 12% average.

Key takeaways for families: Houston County excels in early grades—3rd grade math is 27.9 points above the state—but proficiency tends to decline by 6th grade, suggesting a need for stronger upper-elementary support. Attendance is a clear success indicator: schools with the lowest chronic absenteeism (Wicksburg and Webb) are the top performers, while Cottonwood’s higher absenteeism correlates with weaker results. Year-to-year scores can swing significantly due to small class sizes, as seen with Ashford’s 4th grade math dropping 24.4 points in one year. Finally, Webb’s success despite high poverty shows that effective resource allocation—like smaller class sizes and higher per-student spending ($10,445)—can overcome economic challenges, offering a model worth replicating across the district.