Rachel Patterson Elementary School

Rachel Patterson Elementary School in Atmore, AL, serves 509 students in 1st through 5th grade and is part of the Escambia County district. The school currently ranks in the 8th percentile statewide, a significant decline from the 20th percentile just two years ago, and it faces challenges related to high poverty and attendance that are more pronounced than at nearby schools.

One of the most important things for parents to know is that Rachel Patterson has a chronic absenteeism rate of 29.4%—more than double the state average of 12.0%. This is a major factor in the school's academic struggles. By comparison, Flomaton Elementary, just 14 miles away in the same district, has an absenteeism rate of only 6.8% and ranks in the 66th percentile. Rachel Patterson also has the highest student-teacher ratio in the area at 21.2, meaning larger class sizes and less one-on-one attention. Nearby schools like Perdido Elementary (14.5 ratio) and Flomaton (17.6 ratio) offer smaller class settings. Additionally, 85.27% of students at Rachel Patterson receive free or reduced lunch, compared to 49.48% at Flomaton, highlighting the economic challenges many families in this community face.

Academically, English Language Arts is a relative strength, with proficiency rates between 35.56% and 38.1% in grades 3-5, while math proficiency is much lower, ranging from just 12% to 18.89%. The school's overall performance has dropped sharply across all student groups in recent years, and it now ranks in the 6th percentile for low socio-economic status students. For parents considering this school, it's important to understand that the combination of high absenteeism, larger class sizes, and economic hardship creates significant obstacles. However, the school's ELA scores show there is a foundation to build on, and families may want to explore what attendance support and math intervention programs are available to help their child succeed.