Abbeville Elementary School

Abbeville Elementary School serves 338 students in Pre-K through 6th grade in the small town of Abbeville, Alabama, operating within the Henry County school district.

For over a decade, Abbeville Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom quartile of Alabama elementary schools, earning a 1-star rating every year since 2015. The academic challenges are most pronounced in mathematics, where proficiency rates lag far behind nearby schools. In 5th grade math, only 23% of Abbeville students scored proficient, compared to 52% at Headland Elementary and 80% at GW Long Elementary. The gap widens dramatically by 6th grade, where just 1 in 18 Abbeville students is proficient in math, versus nearly 2 in 3 at GW Long. English Language Arts scores are comparatively stronger, with 5th grade reading proficiency reaching 51% in the most recent year, showing that progress is possible in at least one subject area.

The school serves a student population with significant economic needs, with roughly 75-83% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Chronic absenteeism has historically been a concern, running at about 20% for several years, though it dropped to 10% in the most recent year—a promising sign. Notably, Abbeville spends more per student ($10,642) than either Headland ($8,349) or GW Long ($7,786), yet produces dramatically lower outcomes, suggesting that resources alone aren't the answer. The school also saw a sharp decline in outcomes for special education students, who once ranked in the 79th percentile statewide but now sit near the bottom. For parents considering this school, the persistent lack of improvement over a decade—particularly in math—is the most important factor to weigh.