Randolph Elementary School

Randolph Elementary School is a small, rural PK-6 school in Randolph, Alabama, serving 225 students within the Bibb County School District. This school has become a standout success story, climbing from a 1-star rating in 2017-2018 to a 3-star rating by 2025-2026—a jump of 265 positions in the state rankings that places it in the 57th percentile statewide.

The most impressive achievement at Randolph Elementary is its work with students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. In the most recent school year, these students ranked in the 73rd percentile statewide (4 stars), which is significantly higher than the school's overall ranking. This shows the school is highly effective at closing achievement gaps. Academically, the school's greatest strength is English Language Arts (ELA), where it outperforms state averages in every grade level—for example, 76% of 3rd graders are proficient in reading compared to 65% statewide. Math scores, while still lower than ELA, are improving rapidly. In just two years, 3rd grade math proficiency jumped from below state average to 50%, now exceeding the state's 45% average. When compared to nearby JE Terry Elementary School, Randolph outperforms it in every subject and grade level, often by 20-30 percentage points.

Despite these academic gains, chronic absenteeism remains the school's biggest challenge. At 24.5%, the rate is more than double the state average of 12% and significantly higher than nearby schools like Meadow View Elementary School (6.2%). With a favorable 15:1 student-teacher ratio and per-student spending in line with other area schools, Randolph is achieving strong results through effective use of resources rather than outsized funding. If the school can address attendance issues while maintaining its academic momentum, it is well-positioned to continue climbing toward a 4-star rating.