Elementary Schools in Lowndes County

The three elementary schools in Lowndes County, Alabama—Central Elementary School, Fort Deposit Elementary School, and JacksonSteele Elementary School—serve grades PK-5 in a rural, high-poverty district that ranks in the bottom 10% of Alabama school systems. All three schools have high free/reduced lunch rates (ranging from 74.56% to 87.1%), but they differ sharply in size, attendance, and academic outcomes.

Fort Deposit Elementary School is the clear standout, having climbed from the 9th to the 37th percentile in state rankings over two years—the only school in the district to earn 2 stars. Its chronic absenteeism rate of just 2.3% is remarkably low (the district average is 19%), and it leads the district in 3rd-grade math (53.13% proficient) and 4th-grade English (59.26% proficient). In contrast, Central Elementary School struggles the most, with a 0-star rating, a 25.3% chronic absenteeism rate, and the lowest proficiency rates in most subjects—for example, only 12.5% of its 5th graders are proficient in math. JacksonSteele Elementary School, the smallest school with 114 students, shines in English: 64.71% of its 5th graders are proficient, far above the district average of 47.22%, yet its math scores are equally weak (11.76% proficient in 5th grade).

A district-wide concern is the sharp drop in math proficiency by 5th grade—all three schools fall below 13% proficient, compared to the state average of 39.06%. Spending varies notably, with JacksonSteele receiving $14,946 per student (25% more than Fort Deposit), but higher spending doesn't translate to better overall rankings. For parents, Fort Deposit offers the most consistent academic improvement and strong attendance, while JacksonSteele is a good choice for literacy-focused families. Central faces the steepest challenges, and the district as a whole would benefit from targeted math interventions and attendance support.