McDonnell Elementary School

McDonnell Elementary School is a public school in Huntsville, AL, serving 511 students in grades PK through 5 as part of the Huntsville City district.

McDonnell Elementary is currently facing significant academic challenges, with state rankings that have declined over the past decade to the bottom 5% of Alabama elementary schools. Test scores in math and English are consistently 20-30 percentage points below state averages across all grade levels. For example, 3rd-grade math proficiency sits at 15% compared to the state average of 45%, and 4th-grade English proficiency is 27% versus the state's 60%. When compared to nearby schools, the gap is striking—Jones Valley Elementary, just 3.5 miles away, posts 5th-grade math scores nearly six times higher, and even Ridgecrest Elementary, the closest school serving a similar demographic, outperforms McDonnell in nearly every subject and grade level. The school serves a predominantly low-income population, with about two-thirds of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, and class sizes are slightly larger than nearby schools at an 18.9 student-to-teacher ratio.

Despite these challenges, there are encouraging signs worth noting. Chronic absenteeism has dropped dramatically from 34% in 2021-2022 to just 9.1% in 2024-2025, showing that attendance initiatives are working. Additionally, 5th-grade English proficiency (47%) is notably higher than earlier grades, suggesting literacy gains are possible. There's also a bright spot in recent subgroup data showing significant improvement for African American students, jumping from the 2nd to the 32nd percentile statewide. While the school still has a long way to go, these positive trends—combined with per-student spending comparable to higher-performing schools in the district—suggest that targeted interventions in early-grade reading and math, continued attendance efforts, and support for low-income and English Learner students could help turn the tide.