Elementary Schools in Selma City

The five elementary schools in the Selma City district serve grades PK/K through 6th grade and face significant academic challenges, with the district ranking in the bottom 12% of Alabama districts and all schools serving predominantly low-income populations.

For parents, the standout choice is Meadowview Elementary School, which is the clear academic leader. It's the only school in the district with a 2-star rating, ranking 472nd in the state, and it outperforms its peers dramatically—especially in 4th grade English where 56.76% of students are proficient, more than double the rate at Edgewood Elementary School (26.67%) and nearly triple that of Clark Elementary School (22.22%). Meadowview also shows consistent year-over-year improvement, making it a model for the district. If attendance is your priority, Payne Elementary School stands out with a chronic absenteeism rate of just 4.4%—the lowest in the district and well below the state average—and it posted the strongest 3rd grade math scores (50% proficiency). On the other end, Clark Elementary is the most concerning, with the highest absenteeism (17.9%) and a dramatic decline to the 1st percentile in state rankings.

Across the district, English proficiency (32.9% average) is roughly double math proficiency (16.4% average), and every school trails state averages significantly. Sophia P Kingston Elementary School spends the most per student ($13,079) but ranks 590th, while Meadowview spends a middling amount yet achieves the best results—suggesting resource allocation matters more than total spending. The two smallest schools, Clark (113 students) and Payne (164 students), show that small size doesn't guarantee success, though they may be best positioned for targeted interventions. Overall, parents should consider Meadowview for academic strength, Payne for attendance and engagement, and be aware that the district as a whole needs comprehensive reform to close the achievement gap.