Summary
Oak Park Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK-5 in Decatur, Alabama, with 517 students. It is part of the Decatur City school district, which is ranked 82 out of 135 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger. Unfortunately, Oak Park Elementary has consistently been ranked in the bottom half of Alabama elementary schools over the past 10 years, with a ranking between 495-666 out of 680-692 schools.
The key issues at Oak Park Elementary are its consistently low test scores, high chronic absenteeism rates, and a very high percentage of students (over 80%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population. For example, in 2024-2025, only 20% of 3rd graders were proficient in math, compared to 40.3% for Decatur City and 45.47% statewide. The school also struggles across multiple student subgroups, ranking in the bottom half or bottom quarter of Alabama schools for female, male, African American, Hispanic, and low-socioeconomic status students.
When comparing Oak Park to other nearby elementary schools in the Decatur City district, it consistently underperforms. For instance, Eastwood Elementary, which is only about 1.4 miles away, ranks much higher (top 25% of Alabama schools) and has significantly better test scores, lower chronic absenteeism, and a lower percentage of free/reduced lunch students. Addressing the high rates of poverty, economic disadvantage, and chronic absenteeism at Oak Park Elementary will be crucial for improving the school's performance and outcomes for its students.
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