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Southside Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

53^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 686 Alabama Elementary Schools

Better than 92% of Alabama elementary schools

Summary

Southside Elementary School in Southside, AL, is a highly-rated public school serving 585 students in grades PK through 5 within the Etowah County district. For the 2025-2026 school year, it ranks 53rd out of 686 elementary schools in Alabama (92nd percentile) with a 5-star rating, a significant jump from 94th the previous year and part of a steady upward trend since 2022-2023.

Academically, Southside outperforms both its district and the state by wide margins. In 3rd grade English, 91% of students are proficient compared to 65% statewide; in 5th grade English, that figure is 93% versus 70% statewide. Math scores are also strong, with 3rd graders at 74% proficiency versus 45% statewide. The school is especially effective with students from low socio-economic backgrounds, ranking 22nd out of 668 schools statewide (97th percentile) for that subgroup—a remarkable achievement. It also ranks 2nd in the state for multi-racial students. Chronic absenteeism is exceptionally low at 6.1%, less than half the district rate of 15% and well below the state average of 12%.

Compared to nearby schools, Southside is a clear leader. While Floyd Elementary, Adams Elementary, and W E Striplin Elementary in the Gadsden City district rank in the bottom 10% of the state, Southside sits in the top 8%. Even the top Gadsden City school, Eura Brown Elementary, is outperformed by Southside in 5th grade English (93% vs. 88%). One area to watch is 5th grade math, where proficiency drops to 52%—a steeper decline than the state average. Still, Southside achieves all this while spending just $7,926 per student, less than many lower-performing neighboring schools, making it a model of cost-effective excellence.

585

Students ?

17.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$7,926

Per pupil spending ?

31.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2551 Highway 77
Southside, AL 35907

(256) 442-1090

District: Etowah County

Students who attend Southside Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Rainbow Middle School
High:	Southside High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

86.8%

Two or more races:

5.3%

Hispanic:

5.1%

See top rated Alabama elementary schools

Compare Southside Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 90th percentile in 2016 → 92nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Alabama average (77% vs 53% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 8% of Alabama elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Etowah County

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school77%

District avg60%

Alabama avg53%

53^rd of 686

Alabama public elementary schools ?

Top 8%▲ up 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Alabama Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 11Elementary Schools in the Etowah County

60^th of 139Etowah County 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	90.0	53 of 686	92.3%	★★★★★
2025	83.5	94 of 680	86.2%	★★★★☆
2024	81.5	113 of 684	83.5%	★★★★☆
2023	72.7	169 of 680	75.1%	★★★★☆
2022	76.0	141 of 687	79.5%	★★★★☆
2021	86.9	71 of 692	89.7%	★★★★☆
2019	86.5	71 of 681	89.6%	★★★★☆
2018	89.6	61 of 680	91.0%	★★★★★
2017	86.0	72 of 688	89.5%	★★★★☆
2016	87.5	67 of 691	90.3%	★★★★★
2015	86.7	74 of 691	89.3%	★★★★☆
2014	84.6	74 of 695	89.4%	★★★★☆
2013	78.1	65 of 696	90.7%	★★★★★
2012	76.9	100 of 696	85.6%	★★★★☆
2011	81.6	53 of 709	92.5%	★★★★★
2010	78.9	79 of 704	88.8%	★★★★☆
2009	85.5	36 of 696	94.8%	★★★★★
2008	84.0	42 of 698	94.0%	★★★★★
2007	85.1	45 of 698	93.6%	★★★★★
2006	75.9	114 of 689	83.5%	★★★★☆
2005	83.5	69 of 688	90.0%	★★★★★
2004	74.2	121 of 623	80.6%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	88.1	58 of 652	91.1%	★★★★★
2025	80.3	107 of 649	83.5%	★★★★☆
2024	79.5	108 of 650	83.4%	★★★★☆
2023	73.4	148 of 645	77.1%	★★★★☆
2022	77.7	119 of 656	81.9%	★★★★☆
2021	87.5	62 of 656	90.5%	★★★★★
2019	82.7	81 of 646	87.5%	★★★★☆
2018	88.0	55 of 640	91.4%	★★★★★
2017	87.8	51 of 639	92.0%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	92.5	22 of 668	96.7%	★★★★★
2025	80.9	71 of 660	89.2%	★★★★☆
2024	77.7	105 of 670	84.3%	★★★★☆
2023	69.4	154 of 623	75.3%	★★★★☆
2022	84.0	53 of 651	91.9%	★★★★★
2021	88.9	26 of 653	96.0%	★★★★★
2019	90.5	20 of 649	96.9%	★★★★★
2018	95.4	8 of 651	98.8%	★★★★★
2017	86.3	37 of 567	93.5%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	88.7	56 of 660	91.5%	★★★★★
2025	82.7	86 of 651	86.8%	★★★★☆
2024	80.0	106 of 655	83.8%	★★★★☆
2023	69.1	184 of 649	71.6%	★★★★☆
2022	72.0	166 of 669	75.2%	★★★★☆
2021	83.8	77 of 669	88.5%	★★★★☆
2019	86.4	65 of 650	90.0%	★★★★★
2018	89.7	52 of 650	92.0%	★★★★★
2017	81.1	91 of 639	85.8%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	97.1	2 of 194	99.0%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	71.8	68 of 403	83.1%	★★★★☆
2025	76.5	55 of 403	86.4%	★★★★☆
2024	49.4	171 of 395	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	40.5	219 of 373	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	74.6	47 of 345	86.4%	★★★★☆
2021	57.3	118 of 398	70.4%	★★★★☆
2019	67.6	87 of 392	77.8%	★★★★☆
2018	72.3	57 of 344	83.4%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	77.7	90 of 500	82.0%	★★★★☆
2025	72.4	120 of 532	77.4%	★★★★☆
2024	69.7	139 of 535	74.0%	★★★★☆
2023	57.0	210 of 528	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	63.9	169 of 540	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	77.4	94 of 539	82.6%	★★★★☆
2019	75.6	98 of 529	81.5%	★★★★☆
2018	77.8	92 of 508	81.9%	★★★★☆

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)

Multi-racial (2026)99th percentile+7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)97th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2026)92nd percentile~ school

Female (2026)91st percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)83rd percentile-9 vs school

White (2026)82nd percentile-10 vs school

By subject vs Alabama (2025-2026) ?

English90%+25 vs state

Science74%+24 vs state

Mathematics64%+22 vs state

★

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Schools Near Southside Elementary 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 Science 4th Grade	Summative Assessment English 3rd Grade	Summative Assessment English 4th Grade	Summative Assessment English 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Southside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2551 Highway 77	Southside	35907	Etowah County	Etowah County	No	No	No	No	(256) 442-1090	585	34	17.2	31.8%	508 (86.8%)	8 (1.4%)	30 (5.1%)	5 (0.9%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	31 (5.3%)	90	53^rd of 686 public elementary schools	92.3%		83.5	94^th of 680 public elementary schools	86.2%	41	73.5	67.9	51.7	73.8	91.2	85.7	93.3	$7,926	$882	$7,043
John S Jones Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	301 Lumley Rd	Rainbow City	35906	Etowah County	Etowah County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 442-2900	745	46	16.1	53.7%	527 (70.7%)	101 (13.6%)	37 (5.0%)	24 (3.2%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	54 (7.2%)	74.9	156^th of 686 public elementary schools	77.3%		86.7	74^th of 680 public elementary schools	89.1%	82	45.7	58.8	71.8	66.7	69.5	69.0	78.6	$8,935	$1,866	$7,068
Eura Brown Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1231 Alcott Rd	Gadsden	35901	Etowah County	Gadsden City	No	No	No	No	(256) 546-0011	340	21	16.0	32.6%	238 (70.0%)	59 (17.4%)	18 (5.3%)	8 (2.4%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.4%)	93.5	27^th of 686 public elementary schools	96.1%		93	31^st of 680 public elementary schools	95.4%	4	84.8	69.4	70.0	72.6	100.0	90.2	88.0	$8,337	$710	$7,609
Glencoe Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	207 N College St	Glencoe	35905	Etowah County	Etowah County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 492-4709	397	25	15.8	42.6%	330 (83.1%)	23 (5.8%)	21 (5.3%)	6 (1.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.0%)	77.2	139^th of 686 public elementary schools	79.7%		68.6	210^th of 680 public elementary schools	69.1%	71	55.7	46.7		68.0	82.9	74.7		$8,375	$1,152	$7,223
Donehoo Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1109 E Broad St	Gadsden	35903	Etowah County	Gadsden City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 546-3604	225	12	18.3	73.3%	20 (8.9%)	158 (70.2%)	40 (17.8%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.2%)	65	237^th of 686 public elementary schools	65.5%		50.7	349^th of 680 public elementary schools	48.7%	112	60.0	50.0	48.5	39.3	85.7	60.7	69.7	$11,244	$2,746	$8,483
W E Striplin Elementary School	Public	K-5	600 Cleveland Ave	Gadsden	35901	Etowah County	Gadsden City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 546-8616	400	20	19.7	84.8%	37 (9.3%)	222 (55.5%)	122 (30.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.8%)	32.4	476^th of 686 public elementary schools	30.6%		21.4	532^nd of 680 public elementary schools	21.8%	56	41.5	41.5	15.5	40.0	45.1	40.0	63.2	$9,349	$2,460	$6,872
Adams Elementary School	Public	K-5	919 Raley St	Gadsden	35903	Etowah County	Gadsden City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 492-4952	433	23	18.6	90.8%	61 (14.1%)	196 (45.3%)	160 (37.0%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.8%)	11.7	628^th of 686 public elementary schools	8.5%		9.7	641^st of 680 public elementary schools	5.7%	13	11.0	14.9	21.4	28.4	33.7	34.3	39.3	$9,435	$2,672	$6,747
Therapeutic Academic Program	Public	1-5	201 College St	Gadsden	35901	Etowah County	Gadsden City	No	No	No	No	(256) 549-2961																			(n/a)
Walnut Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3200 Walnut St	Gadsden	35904	Etowah County	Gadsden City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 546-4665	218	13	16.4	78.9%	116 (53.2%)	55 (25.2%)	41 (18.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.8%)	44.1	404^th of 686 public elementary schools	41.1%		39.5	426^th of 680 public elementary schools	37.4%	22	11.6	44.0	26.9	56.0	41.9	72.0	69.2	$11,169	$3,212	$7,941
Floyd Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	601 Black Creek Rd	Gadsden	35904	Etowah County	Gadsden City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 546-0836	384	16	23.8	82.0%	71 (18.5%)	164 (42.7%)	129 (33.6%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.1%)	1 (0.3%)	11 (2.9%)	9.4	645^th of 686 public elementary schools	6.0%		10.7	631^st of 680 public elementary schools	7.2%	14	20.3	9.8	7.8	21.6	44.9	23.5	40.6	$9,258	$2,678	$6,563

Frequently Asked Questions about Southside Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Southside Elementary School?

Students at Southside Elementary School are 87% White, 5% Two or more races, 5% Hispanic, 1% African American.

Is Southside Elementary School a good school?

Yes. Southside Elementary School ranks in the top 7.7% of Alabama elementary schools.

What district is Southside Elementary School in?

Etowah County

How many students attend Southside Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 585 students attended Southside Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Southside Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Southside Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Rainbow Middle School
High : Southside High 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.