Summary
Good Hope Elementary School serves 393 students in grades 3-5 in Cullman, AL, as part of the Cullman County district, and sits just a short distance from its feeder school, Good Hope Primary School (PK-2). The school holds a 3-star rating and ranks in the middle of the pack statewide, though it has shown it can perform at higher levels in past years.
One of the school's biggest strengths is attendance. Only 5.8% of students were chronically absent in the most recent year—less than half the state average of 12.0%—a remarkable improvement that points to strong family engagement. Academically, English Language Arts is a clear bright spot, with 5th graders hitting a 77.88% proficiency rate, well above the state's 69.53%. Science scores are also consistently above state averages. However, math is a persistent challenge. Only 30.09% of 5th graders were proficient in math, compared to 39.06% statewide, and this gap has held steady for several years. When compared to nearby schools, Vinemont Elementary School (about 10 miles away) posts much stronger math scores, with 60.61% of 3rd graders proficient versus Good Hope's 37.19%. The contrast with Cullman City schools is even starker—East Elementary School ranks in the 96th percentile statewide with 5th grade math proficiency near 87%.
There are also notable differences within the student body. Hispanic students at Good Hope are achieving exceptional results, ranking in the 87th percentile statewide. At the same time, the school's largest group of students is performing well below expectations, which pulls down overall scores. The school also serves a moderate level of economic disadvantage, with 50.38% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch—an improvement from 67.39% the year before. With a student-to-teacher ratio of 18.6:1, class sizes are slightly larger than at the nearby primary school. The school spends about $8,739 per student, less than several neighboring schools, yet achieves comparable or better outcomes in reading and science. For parents, this is a school with clear strengths in literacy, attendance, and science, but one where math support and attention to all student groups will be important to watch.
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