Valley Grande Elementary School

Valley Grande Elementary School in Valley Grande, AL, serves 353 students from Pre-K through 6th grade and is part of the Dallas County school district.

Valley Grande stands out as one of the stronger performers within its district, consistently beating the Dallas County average across most subjects and grade levels. For example, in 3rd grade English, 68.97% of students met proficiency standards compared to the district's 49.04%. The school shows particular strength in early-grade reading, with 3rd grade English scores actually exceeding the state average. It also performs well with its African American students, who rank in the 46th percentile statewide—significantly better than the school's overall ranking. When compared to nearby Brantley Elementary School, Valley Grande outperforms it in nearly every subject, with 3rd grade English proficiency more than double Brantley's rate. The school also achieves these results while spending less per student ($8,689) than many nearby schools like Salem Elementary School ($11,997) or JE Terry Elementary School ($12,312), suggesting efficient use of resources.

However, families should be aware of some challenges. Math proficiency drops dramatically as students advance, falling from 43.1% in 3rd grade to just 9.43% in 5th grade—well below the state average of 39.06%. The school also shows significant year-to-year swings in test scores, which can make it hard to predict outcomes for any given class. Chronic absenteeism has improved substantially, dropping from 31.6% to 17.6% over two years, though it remains above the state average. The school has also absorbed a significant increase in students qualifying for free or reduced lunch (from 60% to 77% in two years) while maintaining its overall performance. For parents considering this school, the strong early literacy program and relative strength within the district are clear positives, but the upper-grade math decline is worth investigating further.