Elementary Schools in Walker County

The Walker County school district in Alabama serves approximately 3,760 elementary students across 8 schools, with grade configurations ranging from PK-4 to PK-8, and the district itself ranks in the middle percentile statewide with a 2-star rating.

For parents exploring options, Lupton Junior High School stands out as the district's top academic performer, currently ranked 215th statewide with a 3-star rating, and it posted an exceptional 4-star performance in 2024-2025 when it ranked 105th. Lupton dominates in math across all grade levels, with 7th grade math proficiency at 42.86% compared to the district average of 17.48%, and it also leads in 3rd grade English at 89.74% proficiency. However, Lupton also has the highest chronic absenteeism rate at 23.7%, more than double the district average of 11%. Meanwhile, Carbon Hill Elementary Junior High School shows the most dramatic improvement, climbing from the 47th to the 64th percentile over three years, with standout 4th grade science proficiency at 79.49% versus the state average of 50.23%. In contrast, Cordova Elementary School has declined sharply from a 5-star rating (92nd percentile) in 2023-2024 to a 3-star rating (68th percentile) today, though it still exceeds state averages in most subjects.

Across the district, early-grade English is a clear strength—six of eight schools exceed state 3rd grade averages, with Curry Elementary School leading at 76.14% proficiency. Science is another hidden advantage, with Valley Junior High School and Carbon Hill both exceeding 75% proficiency in 4th grade science. However, a concerning "middle school math cliff" emerges across PK-8 schools, with 7th grade math proficiency dropping to just 4.35% at both Valley and Parrish Elementary Middle School. Resource allocation varies widely—Oakman Elementary School and Parrish have remarkably low chronic absenteeism (under 2%) yet only mid-range academic results, while Parrish spends $15,603 per student (60% more than Sumiton Elementary School's $8,903) without achieving proportionally better outcomes. This suggests that while attendance and funding matter, instructional quality and targeted interventions—particularly in upper-grade math—are the most critical levers for improvement across this district.