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Princeton School

Q: Is Princeton School a good school?

Princeton School ranks 86 th of 686 Alabama elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades PK, KG-5

86^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 686 Alabama Elementary Schools

Better than 87% of Alabama elementary schools

Summary

Princeton School is a small elementary school in Birmingham, AL, serving roughly 195 students in grades PK-5 within the Birmingham City district.

Princeton School stands out as a remarkable academic success story. Despite being part of a district that overall ranks in the bottom 15% of Alabama, Princeton consistently outperforms state averages in every subject and grade level. For example, 3rd grade reading proficiency is 88% compared to the state average of 64.8%, and 4th grade math proficiency is 79.3% versus the state's 42.1%. This excellence extends to all student groups, with the school earning top marks for its work with students from low-income backgrounds and its African American students. The school has also achieved a near-perfect attendance record, with a chronic absenteeism rate of just 0.5%—a dramatic improvement from 14.8% just a few years ago and far better than the district average of 13.1%. A favorable 13:1 student-teacher ratio likely supports this success, allowing for more individualized attention.

The contrast with nearby schools is striking. Hemphill Elementary School, located less than a mile away, ranks in the 12th percentile statewide with chronic absenteeism of 24.8% and math proficiency rates as low as 8.7%. Princeton, serving a similar demographic, achieves proficiency rates 40-60 percentage points higher. This suggests that school-level practices, not student demographics, are driving the results. While the school's ranking dipped slightly from 5 stars to 4 stars recently, it remains in the top 15% of all Alabama elementary schools. The only comparable school in the district is EPIC Alternative Elementary School, which also achieves high rankings and low absenteeism. Princeton's success demonstrates that high achievement is possible regardless of a school's economic context, making it a model worth studying for the entire district.

195

Students ?

13.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,109

Per pupil spending ?

55.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1425 2nd Ave W
Birmingham, AL 35208-5411

(205) 231-2500

District: Birmingham City

Racial breakdown:

African American:

99.5%

Two or more races:

0.5%

See top rated Alabama elementary schools

Compare Princeton School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 87th percentile in 2016 → 87th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Alabama average (73% vs 53% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 13% of Alabama elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Birmingham City

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school73%

District avg32%

Alabama avg53%

86^th of 686

Alabama public elementary schools ?

Top 13%▲ up 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Alabama Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 26Elementary Schools in the Birmingham City

119^th of 139Birmingham 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	85.6	86 of 686	87.5%	★★★★☆
2025	91.3	45 of 680	93.4%	★★★★★
2024	81.2	114 of 684	83.3%	★★★★☆
2023	44.1	393 of 680	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.4	394 of 687	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.7	461 of 692	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	54.0	321 of 681	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.6	240 of 680	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2017	84.6	82 of 688	88.1%	★★★★☆
2016	83.8	93 of 691	86.5%	★★★★☆
2015	76.1	134 of 691	80.6%	★★★★☆
2014	64.2	227 of 695	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2013	79.9	46 of 696	93.4%	★★★★★
2012	88.4	9 of 696	98.7%	★★★★★
2011	88.7	13 of 709	98.2%	★★★★★
2010	91.8	9 of 704	98.7%	★★★★★
2009	91.8	11 of 696	98.4%	★★★★★
2008	93.4	7 of 698	99.0%	★★★★★
2007	86.2	36 of 698	94.8%	★★★★★
2006	88.0	31 of 689	95.5%	★★★★★
2005	91.2	17 of 688	97.5%	★★★★★
2004	93.5	14 of 623	97.8%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	96.9	8 of 429	98.1%	★★★★★
2025	99.2	5 of 427	98.8%	★★★★★
2024	96.6	12 of 420	97.1%	★★★★★
2023	63.5	107 of 427	74.9%	★★★★☆
2022	68.6	88 of 426	79.3%	★★★★☆
2021	56.1	148 of 426	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	78.3	54 of 426	87.3%	★★★★☆
2018	86.0	38 of 423	91.0%	★★★★★
2017	96.6	5 of 336	98.5%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	85.0	76 of 652	88.3%	★★★★☆
2025	91.4	30 of 649	95.4%	★★★★★
2024	76.5	126 of 650	80.6%	★★★★☆
2023	46.1	352 of 645	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	47.1	351 of 656	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	36.6	422 of 656	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	49.9	332 of 646	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	58.9	277 of 640	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2017	84.9	67 of 639	89.5%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	91.5	25 of 668	96.3%	★★★★★
2025	92.9	19 of 660	97.1%	★★★★★
2024	84.3	56 of 670	91.6%	★★★★★
2023	35.8	415 of 623	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.9	360 of 651	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	38.0	421 of 653	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	74.8	102 of 649	84.3%	★★★★☆
2018	81.1	74 of 651	88.6%	★★★★☆
2017	91.6	20 of 567	96.5%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	80.4	104 of 660	84.2%	★★★★☆
2025	88.6	55 of 651	91.6%	★★★★★
2024	81.7	95 of 655	85.5%	★★★★☆
2023	43.9	380 of 649	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.8	393 of 669	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.4	445 of 669	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	58.9	258 of 650	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	66.7	208 of 650	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	79.8	102 of 639	84.0%	★★★★☆

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)

African American (2026)98th percentile+11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)96th percentile+9 vs school

Female (2026)88th percentile~ school

Male (2026)84th percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs Alabama (2025-2026) ?

English83%+19 vs state

Mathematics68%+26 vs state

Science59%+8 vs state

★

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Schools Near Princeton 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 (2019)
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	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
Princeton School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1425 2nd Ave W	Birmingham	35208	Jefferson County	Birmingham City	No	Yes	No	Yes	(205) 231-2500	195	15	13.0	55.4%	0 (0.0%)	194 (99.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	85.6	86^th of 686 public elementary schools	87.5%		91.3	45^th of 680 public elementary schools	93.4%	41	68.0	79.3	57.1				58.6		88.0	79.3	82.9				$12,109	$2,245	$9,861
Hemphill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	714 12th Street SW	Birmingham	35211	Jefferson County	Birmingham City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 231-7500	353	20	17.6	79.0%	4 (1.1%)	312 (88.4%)	33 (9.3%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	13.4	607^th of 686 public elementary schools	11.5%		13.3	606^th of 680 public elementary schools	10.9%	1	32.6	8.7	9.4				13.0		44.4	39.1	44.4				$11,087	$2,703	$8,383
Minor Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2425 Ave SEnsley	Birmingham	35218	Jefferson County	Birmingham City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 231-6555	441	24	18.3	80.3%	2 (0.5%)	392 (88.9%)	38 (8.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.0%)	12.9	614^th of 686 public elementary schools	10.5%		9.9	639^th of 680 public elementary schools	6.0%	25	27.1	16.3	15.4				15.0		41.4	31.3	48.1				$12,293	$2,301	$9,991
West End Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	1840 Pearson Avenue SW	Birmingham	35211	Jefferson County	Birmingham City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 231-1742	492	28	17.5	76.8%	4 (0.8%)	403 (81.9%)	80 (16.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.0%)	9.8	642^nd of 686 public elementary schools	6.4%		7.8	660^th of 680 public elementary schools	2.9%	18	9.4	14.5	22.8				12.0		34.4	28.0	44.8				$10,378	$1,589	$8,788
Washington K8	Public	PK, KG-8	115 Fourth Avenue South	Birmingham	35205	Jefferson County	Birmingham City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 231-7740	617	30	20.5	74.6%	6 (1.0%)	385 (62.4%)	217 (35.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.1%)	28.8	495^th of 686 public elementary schools	27.8%		39.4	428^th of 680 public elementary schools	37.1%	67	27.3	73.9	22.7	20.3	5.2	6.7	23.9	27.9	50.0	47.8	45.5	30.5	30.7	36.8	$11,393	$2,367	$9,024
Central Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4915 Ave Q	Birmingham	35208	Jefferson County	Birmingham City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 231-1250	386	23	16.7	72.3%	1 (0.3%)	303 (78.5%)	75 (19.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	5 (1.3%)	11.2	632^nd of 686 public elementary schools	7.9%		21.1	533^rd of 680 public elementary schools	21.6%	99	18.2	17.7	8.9				16.1		41.8	39.3	41.8				$11,240	$1,956	$9,283
Freedom Prep Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	630 1st Avenue S	Birmingham	35205	Jefferson County	Freedom Prep Academy	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(334) 521-6094	41			68.3%	1 (2.4%)	35 (85.4%)	4 (9.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.4%)	7.7	665^th of 686 public elementary schools	3.1%					(n/a)	9.1	12.5					18.8		22.7	37.5
Richard Arrington Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2101 Jefferson Avenue SW	Birmingham	35211	Jefferson County	Birmingham City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 231-1130	341	18	18.9	80.4%	5 (1.5%)	292 (85.6%)	41 (12.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.9%)	8.6	654^th of 686 public elementary schools	4.7%		5.3	672^nd of 680 public elementary schools	1.2%	18	12.2	14.3	9.3				17.1		38.8	28.6	44.2
Tuggle Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	412 12th Ct N	Birmingham	35204	Jefferson County	Birmingham City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 231-2675	423	18	23.5	74.7%	2 (0.5%)	293 (69.3%)	122 (28.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.4%)	14.1	599^th of 686 public elementary schools	12.7%		16.3	576^th of 680 public elementary schools	15.3%	23	15.5	23.1	10.9				24.6		47.9	40.0	40.0				$10,447	$2,625	$7,821
Charles A Brown Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4811 Court J	Birmingham	35208	Jefferson County	Birmingham City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 231-6860	296	18	16.4	83.1%	0 (0.0%)	276 (93.2%)	19 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	17.1	579^th of 686 public elementary schools	15.6%		18.8	553^rd of 680 public elementary schools	18.7%	26	10.7	15.6	20.0				16.3		46.4	36.4	63.4				$11,676	$1,394	$10,280

Frequently Asked Questions about Princeton School

How many students attend Princeton School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 195 students attended Princeton School.

What district is Princeton School in?

Birmingham City

What is the racial makeup of Princeton School?

Students at Princeton School are 99% African American.

Is Princeton School a good school?

Princeton School ranks 86^th of 686 Alabama elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Princeton School!

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Latest Alabama data All new data »

2025–26 Summative Assessment scoresAug 14, 2026

2024–25 attendance data & graduation ratesDec 27, 2025

2024–25 Summative Assessment scoresAug 14, 2025

2021–22 through 2023–24 attendance data & graduation ratesDec 2, 2024

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.