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Gulf Shores Elementary School

Q: Is Gulf Shores Elementary School a good school?

Gulf Shores Elementary School ranks 98 th of 686 Alabama elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

98^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 686 Alabama Elementary Schools

Better than 86% of Alabama elementary schools

Summary

Gulf Shores Elementary School serves 1,230 students in Pre-K through 5th grade in the Gulf Shores, AL area, and is part of the highly rated Gulf Shores City district, which holds a 5-star rating and ranks in the top 10% of districts statewide.

This school is a strong academic performer, consistently ranking in the top 15-20% of elementary schools in Alabama. In the most recent school year, it earned a 4-star rating and ranked 98th out of 686 elementary schools statewide. Students here significantly outperform state averages in every subject. For example, math proficiency rates range from 55-63% compared to the state average of 39-45%, and English proficiency is an impressive 77-84% versus the state's 60-70%. The school has also shown remarkable improvement in recent years, particularly in math and science, with 4th-grade science proficiency jumping from 54% to 74% in just a few years. One of the most notable strengths is the school's effectiveness with students from low socio-economic backgrounds, where it ranks in the 94th percentile statewide—a testament to its success in helping all students achieve. Chronic absenteeism is also very low at just 6.1%, about half the state average.

When compared to nearby schools, Gulf Shores stands out. While Orange Beach Elementary (just 7.5 miles away) has higher overall test scores, it serves a much more affluent student population. Gulf Shores achieves strong results with a larger, more diverse student body, where over a third of students qualify for free/reduced lunch. The contrast with neighboring Baldwin County schools is even starker—schools like Foley Elementary, Magnolia School, and Summerdale School rank in the 30-40th percentile statewide, with proficiency rates 20-30 points lower. Even with larger class sizes (a student-teacher ratio of 17.8), Gulf Shores Elementary delivers top-quartile results, making it a standout choice for families in the area.

1,230

Students ?

17.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,071

Per pupil spending ?

35.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1600 E 3rd St
Gulf Shores, AL 36542

(251) 968-7375

District: Gulf Shores City

Students who attend Gulf Shores Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Gulf Shores Middle School
High:	Gulf Shores High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

78.9%

Hispanic:

7.8%

Two or more races:

6.6%

See top rated Alabama elementary schools

Compare Gulf Shores Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 91st percentile in 2021 → 86th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Alabama average (71% vs 53% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 14% of Alabama elementary schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 5 percentile points since 2021

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school71%

District avg71%

Alabama avg53%

98^th of 686

Alabama public elementary schools ?

Top 14%▼ down 6 pts since 2021

From top 9% (2021) to top 14% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Alabama Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

13^th of 140Gulf Shores City among Alabama districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	83.5	98 of 686	85.7%	★★★★☆
2025	81.5	103 of 680	84.9%	★★★★☆
2024	79.0	128 of 684	81.3%	★★★★☆
2023	78.9	124 of 680	81.8%	★★★★☆
2022	84.8	85 of 687	87.6%	★★★★☆
2021	89.6	60 of 692	91.3%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	81.3	50 of 428	88.3%	★★★★☆
2025	76.8	66 of 427	84.5%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	83.8	87 of 651	86.6%	★★★★☆
2025	80.7	102 of 649	84.3%	★★★★☆
2024	78.0	115 of 650	82.3%	★★★★☆
2023	76.8	125 of 645	80.6%	★★★★☆
2022	75.9	129 of 656	80.3%	★★★★☆
2021	78.6	103 of 656	84.3%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	83.6	19 of 206	90.8%	★★★★★
2024	82.2	23 of 196	88.3%	★★★★☆
2023	72.1	41 of 184	77.7%	★★★★☆
2022	80.4	27 of 175	84.6%	★★★★☆
2021	88.4	11 of 164	93.3%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	88.6	39 of 667	94.2%	★★★★★
2025	82.2	63 of 660	90.5%	★★★★★
2024	78.5	92 of 670	86.3%	★★★★☆
2023	67.9	168 of 623	73.0%	★★★★☆
2022	74.0	121 of 651	81.4%	★★★★☆
2021	92.1	15 of 653	97.7%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	80.6	102 of 659	84.5%	★★★★☆
2025	79.2	115 of 651	82.3%	★★★★☆
2024	76.7	133 of 655	79.7%	★★★★☆
2023	77.9	117 of 649	82.0%	★★★★☆
2022	89.0	59 of 669	91.2%	★★★★★
2021	93.2	39 of 669	94.2%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	75.3	35 of 193	81.9%	★★★★☆
2025	53.5	47 of 97	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	72.9	12 of 54	77.8%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	74.7	58 of 403	85.6%	★★★★☆
2025	77.7	53 of 403	86.8%	★★★★☆
2024	86.8	33 of 395	91.6%	★★★★★
2023	75.5	44 of 373	88.2%	★★★★☆
2022	66.3	77 of 345	77.7%	★★★★☆
2021	67.4	78 of 398	80.4%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	73.1	111 of 501	77.8%	★★★★☆
2025	71.3	126 of 532	76.3%	★★★★☆
2024	66.1	164 of 535	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.4	165 of 528	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	73.1	117 of 540	78.3%	★★★★☆
2021	79.5	87 of 539	83.9%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)94th percentile+8 vs school

Hispanic (2025)91st percentile+6 vs school

African American (2026)88th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2026)87th percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)86th percentile~ school

Male (2026)85th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2026)82nd percentile-4 vs school

White (2026)78th percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs Alabama (2025-2026) ?

English81%+16 vs state

Science74%+24 vs state

Mathematics59%+17 vs state

★

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Schools Near Gulf Shores Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				Summative Assessment Mathematics (2026)						Summative Assessment Science (2026)		Summative Assessment English (2026)						Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Summative Assessment Mathematics 3rd Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 4th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 5th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 4th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 8th Grade	Summative Assessment English 3rd Grade	Summative Assessment English 4th Grade	Summative Assessment English 5th Grade	Summative Assessment English 6th Grade	Summative Assessment English 7th Grade	Summative Assessment English 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Gulf Shores Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1600 E 3rd St	Gulf Shores	36542	Baldwin County	Gulf Shores City	No	No	No	Yes	(251) 968-7375	1,230	69	17.8	35.4%	970 (78.9%)	64 (5.2%)	96 (7.8%)	11 (0.9%)	7 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	81 (6.6%)	83.5	98^th of 686 public elementary schools	85.7%		81.5	103^rd of 680 public elementary schools	84.9%	5	55.1	63.3	59.7				74.5		77.1	83.5	82.3				$12,071	$1,703	$10,362
Swift Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	6330 Bon Secour Hwy	Bon Secour	36511	Baldwin County	Baldwin County	No	No	No	Yes	(251) 949-6422	155	13	12.4	74.2%	97 (62.6%)	1 (0.6%)	50 (32.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (4.5%)	33.9	466^th of 686 public elementary schools	32.1%		26.3	502^nd of 680 public elementary schools	26.2%	36	52.6	20.0	5.9				33.3		68.4	46.7	58.8				$28,051	$5,212	$22,806
Orange Beach Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	4900 S Wilson Blvd	Orange Beach	36561	Baldwin County	Orange Beach City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(251) 981-5662	600	41	14.6	19.3%	536 (89.3%)	12 (2.0%)	32 (5.3%)	1 (0.2%)	6 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.2%)	96.9	9^th of 686 public elementary schools	98.7%		95.8	11^th of 680 public elementary schools	98.4%	2	76.9	89.4	88.0	81.5			95.3		91.0	91.8	94.7	90.1			$11,990	$1,022	$10,955
Florence B Mathis Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	600 9th Ave	Foley	36535	Baldwin County	Baldwin County	No	No	No	Yes	(251) 943-1244	1,023	61	16.7	56.9%	401 (39.2%)	170 (16.6%)	321 (31.4%)	19 (1.9%)	5 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	107 (10.5%)	36.5	455^th of 686 public elementary schools	33.7%		30.2	473^rd of 680 public elementary schools	30.4%	18	33.3	33.3	16.6	28.8			51.0		59.8	56.5	50.7	46.9			$12,355	$2,713	$9,609
Foley Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	450 N Cedar Street	Foley	36535	Baldwin County	Baldwin County	No	No	No	Yes	(251) 943-8861	1,022	65	15.7	63.3%	388 (38.0%)	166 (16.2%)	368 (36.0%)	4 (0.4%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	94 (9.2%)	35.3	460^th of 686 public elementary schools	32.9%		33.8	456^th of 680 public elementary schools	32.9%	4	32.6	33.6	24.4	18.6			41.0		57.1	55.4	62.6	47.4			$14,099	$3,408	$10,660
Magnolia School	Public	PK, KG-6	1 Jaguar Loop	Foley	36535	Baldwin County	Baldwin County	No	No	No	Yes	(251) 965-6200	944	60	15.6	60.9%	539 (57.1%)	114 (12.1%)	206 (21.8%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.4%)	2 (0.2%)	78 (8.3%)	38.5	441^st of 686 public elementary schools	35.7%		40.8	417^th of 680 public elementary schools	38.7%	24	29.1	35.8	14.8	19.7			43.1		57.8	60.2	61.7	61.0			$11,973	$2,239	$9,702
Elberta Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	25820 Highway 98	Elberta	36530	Baldwin County	Baldwin County	No	No	No	Yes	(251) 986-5888	1,034	61	16.8	38.4%	839 (81.1%)	14 (1.4%)	114 (11.0%)	5 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.4%)	57 (5.5%)	76.2	149^th of 686 public elementary schools	78.3%		75.1	153^rd of 680 public elementary schools	77.5%	4	55.7	53.0	60.2	42.7			61.4		71.0	79.6	83.7	65.4			$12,746	$2,256	$10,457
Summerdale School	Public	PK, KG-8	401 E Jackson Ave	Summerdale	36580	Baldwin County	Baldwin County	No	No	No	Yes	(251) 989-6850	615	35	17.4	64.2%	313 (50.9%)	25 (4.1%)	216 (35.1%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (9.3%)	37.6	447^th of 686 public elementary schools	34.8%		32.6	464^th of 680 public elementary schools	31.8%	17	30.9	14.3	31.3	24.7	9.4	20.4	34.9	46.9	63.2	41.3	75.0	59.3	57.8	53.1	$14,981	$2,704	$12,245
J Larry Newton School	Public	PK, KG-6	9761 County Road 32	Fairhope	36532	Baldwin County	Baldwin County	No	No	No	Yes	(251) 990-3858	804	55	14.6	35.7%	578 (71.9%)	37 (4.6%)	119 (14.8%)	7 (0.9%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	59 (7.3%)	90.6	49^th of 686 public elementary schools	92.9%		87.8	67^th of 680 public elementary schools	90.1%	18	63.6	71.4	87.0	62.4			74.0		83.8	79.0	93.5	77.8			$12,684	$1,804	$10,849
Silverhill School	Public	PK, KG-6	15800 4th Ave	Silverhill	36576	Baldwin County	Baldwin County	No	No	No	Yes	(251) 945-5188	497	30	16.7	58.1%	271 (54.5%)	12 (2.4%)	190 (38.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (4.6%)	48.2	369^th of 686 public elementary schools	46.2%		35.7	450^th of 680 public elementary schools	33.8%	81	59.0	37.7	29.9	27.4			49.1		62.3	57.7	61.2	51.6			$13,068	$2,969	$10,068

Frequently Asked Questions about Gulf Shores Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Gulf Shores Elementary School?

Students at Gulf Shores Elementary School are 79% White, 8% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 5% African American.

Is Gulf Shores Elementary School a good school?

Gulf Shores Elementary School ranks 98^th of 686 Alabama elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Gulf Shores Elementary School in?

Gulf Shores City

How many students attend Gulf Shores Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,230 students attended Gulf Shores Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Gulf Shores Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Gulf Shores Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Gulf Shores Middle School
High : Gulf Shores High School

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Latest Alabama data All new data »

2019–20 through 2022–23 school spending dataNewOct 6, 2026

2025–26 Summative Assessment scoresAug 14, 2026

2024–25 attendance data & graduation ratesDec 27, 2025

2024–25 Summative Assessment scoresAug 14, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Alabama State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.