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Clay Elementary School

Q: Is Clay Elementary School a good school?

Clay Elementary School ranks 475 th of 680 Alabama elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

475^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 680 Alabama Elementary Schools

Better than 30% of Alabama elementary schools

Summary

Clay Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 634 students in grades PK-5 in Clay, Alabama, which is part of the Jefferson County school district. While the school has faced significant academic challenges in recent years, it is part of a broader trend of underperformance across the district.

Clay Elementary has consistently underperformed compared to state and county averages on standardized tests, with only 25% of 3rd-5th graders proficient in math in 2024-2025, compared to 45.47% statewide. The school also has higher rates of chronic absenteeism and a lower per-student spending level than nearby schools. As a result, Clay Elementary's statewide ranking has declined from the top 25% of Alabama elementary schools in 2014-2015 to the bottom 30% in 2024-2025, with a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While Clay Elementary faces significant challenges, it is not alone. Nearby schools in the Jefferson County district, such as Erwin Intermediate and Chalkville Elementary, also struggle with low academic performance and rankings in the bottom 30% of Alabama elementary schools. In contrast, schools in the higher-performing Trussville City district, such as Magnolia Elementary and Cahaba Elementary, significantly outperform Clay Elementary on academic measures.

606

Students ?

16.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,688

Per pupil spending ?

54.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6745 Old Springville Rd
Clay, AL 35048-0127

(205) 379-3000

District: Jefferson County

Students who attend Clay Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	ClayChalkville Middle School
High:	ClayChalkville High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

62.2%

White:

18.5%

Hispanic:

10.2%

See top rated Alabama elementary schools

Compare Clay Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 77th percentile in 2015 → 30th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Alabama average (38% vs 52% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 47 percentile points since 2015

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school38%

District avg41%

Alabama avg52%

475^th of 680

Alabama public elementary schools ?

Bottom 30%▼ down 47 pts since 2015

From top 23% (2015) to bottom 30% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Alabama Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

14^th of 26Elementary Schools in the Jefferson County

101^st of 135Jefferson 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
2025	29.8	475 of 680	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.2	410 of 684	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.3	418 of 680	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.4	446 of 687	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	30.6	481 of 692	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	49.5	360 of 681	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	54.4	327 of 680	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	57.1	294 of 688	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	61.2	250 of 691	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2015	72.5	156 of 691	77.4%	★★★★☆
2014	64.9	215 of 695	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	62.4	282 of 696	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2012	66.0	242 of 696	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2011	73.4	148 of 709	79.1%	★★★★☆
2010	70.7	170 of 704	75.9%	★★★★☆
2009	74.2	124 of 696	82.2%	★★★★☆
2008	60.1	278 of 698	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2007	61.4	281 of 698	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2006	70.4	151 of 689	78.1%	★★★★☆
2005	74.9	123 of 688	82.1%	★★★★☆
2004	85.2	55 of 623	91.2%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	38.0	265 of 427	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	51.3	176 of 420	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	45.8	212 of 427	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.4	173 of 426	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	48.1	191 of 426	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	64.5	113 of 426	73.5%	★★★★☆
2018	70.3	84 of 423	80.1%	★★★★☆
2017	60.4	96 of 336	71.4%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	25.4	501 of 649	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.4	446 of 650	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.4	425 of 645	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.4	415 of 656	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	33.8	442 of 656	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.5	358 of 646	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	59.8	272 of 640	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	59.3	245 of 639	61.7%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	30.1	154 of 206	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	25.2	519 of 660	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	46.5	369 of 670	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.6	357 of 623	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.1	427 of 651	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	28.5	470 of 653	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	48.0	349 of 649	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	59.5	255 of 651	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	46.7	314 of 567	44.6%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	33.7	440 of 651	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	51.3	326 of 655	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	44.7	373 of 649	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.7	444 of 669	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	26.3	489 of 669	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	50.4	334 of 650	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.3	345 of 650	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2017	51.8	319 of 639	50.1%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	16.8	87 of 97	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	39.6	227 of 403	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.2	251 of 395	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	27.2	295 of 373	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.6	289 of 345	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	23.7	336 of 398	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.1	280 of 392	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	50.3	151 of 344	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	63.3	71 of 280	74.6%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	40.3	336 of 532	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	56.2	222 of 535	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.1	259 of 528	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	34.0	375 of 540	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	21.2	463 of 539	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	46.3	283 of 529	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.6	265 of 508	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	43.8	196 of 369	46.9%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Special Education (2025)44th percentile+14 vs school

African American (2025)38th percentile+8 vs school

White (2025)37th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2025)32nd percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)25th percentile-5 vs school

Female (2025)23rd percentile-7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)21st percentile-9 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)10th percentile-20 vs school

By subject vs Alabama (2024-2025) ?

English57%-8 vs state

Mathematics25%-17 vs state

Science22%-21 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a teacher
Sunday, April 27, 2025

Clay Elementary school is the best school. I’m not just saying this because I work here, but because I have worked in other schools and it does not compare. The leadership in this school is what makes it for me. Dr. Finkley and Mrs. Ellis work so well together and do so much for the school, faculty, teachers and most importantly the students! I actually went to Clay Elementary as a child and to come back and teach here was a dream come true for me! I love this school and everyone so much!! It is the cutest school too!!! :) Close Quote

Schools Near Clay Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				Summative Assessment Mathematics (2025)			Summative Assessment Science (2025)	Summative Assessment English (2025)			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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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
Clay Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6745 Old Springville Rd	Clay	35048	Jefferson County	Jefferson County	No	No	No	No	(205) 379-3000	606	36	16.6	54.8%	112 (18.5%)	377 (62.2%)	62 (10.2%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	51 (8.4%)	29.8	475^th of 680 public elementary schools	30.1%		43.2	410^th of 684 public elementary schools	40.1%	65	25.0	25.0	25.3	21.7	52.9	48.8	69.2	$8,688	$859	$7,807
Paine Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7600 Gadsden Highway	Trussville	35173	Jefferson County	Trussville City	No	No	No	No	(205) 228-3200	1,338	86	15.5	15.2%	977 (73.0%)	206 (15.4%)	60 (4.5%)	26 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	69 (5.2%)	92.7	33^rd of 680 public elementary schools	95.1%		93.8	30^th of 684 public elementary schools	95.6%	3	71.7	71.8	77.3	70.4	87.0	85.2	87.6	$10,494	$1,099	$9,328
Bryant Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2020 Bryant Park Drive	Birmingham	35215	Jefferson County	Jefferson County	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 379-2850	707	41	17.4	64.5%	55 (7.8%)	575 (81.3%)	47 (6.6%)	6 (0.8%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (3.1%)	29.2	479^th of 680 public elementary schools	29.6%		26	507^th of 684 public elementary schools	25.9%	28	24.8	25.7	16.7	30.3	59.6	51.4	58.4
Pinson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	4200 School Dr	Pinson	35126	Jefferson County	Jefferson County	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 379-5050	753	46	16.5	58.7%	135 (17.9%)	355 (47.1%)	220 (29.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (5.6%)								(n/a)								$9,752	$1,548	$8,185
Cahaba Elementary School	Public	K-5	301 Parkway Drive	Trussville	35173	Jefferson County	Trussville City	No	No	No	No	(205) 228-3400	542	38	14.3	18.5%	434 (80.1%)	36 (6.6%)	38 (7.0%)	11 (2.0%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (3.9%)	93.4	28^th of 680 public elementary schools	95.9%		94.2	29^th of 684 public elementary schools	95.8%	1	74.7	67.8	68.0	70.0	93.4	88.8	90.2	$10,638	$763	$9,866
Chalkville Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	940 Chalkville School Rd	Birmingham	35215	Jefferson County	Jefferson County	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 379-2950	818	45	18.3	69.6%	21 (2.6%)	649 (79.3%)	119 (14.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (3.4%)	12.9	611^th of 680 public elementary schools	10.1%		10.3	638^th of 684 public elementary schools	6.7%	27	17.4	21.6	10.4	23.4	35.9	36.0	43.2	$8,959	$1,664	$7,273
Center Point Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	4801 Indian Trail	Birmingham	35215	Jefferson County	Jefferson County	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 379-2900	557	34	16.5	72.5%	6 (1.1%)	477 (85.6%)	70 (12.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.7%)								(n/a)								$10,844	$2,275	$8,548
Kermit Johnson School	Public	3-5	8300 Kermit Johnson Rd	Pinson	35126	Jefferson County	Jefferson County	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 379-4350	646	37	17.4	69.8%	104 (16.1%)	310 (48.0%)	210 (32.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (3.3%)	26.7	498^th of 680 public elementary schools	26.8%		28.4	498^th of 684 public elementary schools	27.2%		21.7	26.1	24.1	37.1	44.4	51.3	52.4	$8,240	$1,527	$6,694
Erwin Intermediate School	Public	3-5	532 23rd Ave NW	Center Point	35215	Jefferson County	Jefferson County	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 379-3350	510	25	20.4	82.2%	7 (1.4%)	427 (83.7%)	70 (13.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.2%)	11	628^th of 680 public elementary schools	7.6%		18.8	558^th of 684 public elementary schools	18.4%	70	18.3	9.2	9.3	19.5	39.5	38.7	42.5	$9,859	$2,310	$7,526
Margaret Elementary	Public	K-5	200 Mustang Drive	Margaret	35120	St. Clair County	St Clair County	No	No	No	No	(205) 629-5034	707	43	16.4	44.8%	465 (65.8%)	158 (22.3%)	36 (5.1%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.4%)	43 (6.1%)	72.1	174^th of 680 public elementary schools	74.4%		67.2	206^th of 684 public elementary schools	69.9%	32	55.4	53.2	37.2	55.4	75.2	75.0	76.3	$8,493	$1,571	$6,912

Frequently Asked Questions about Clay Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Clay Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : ClayChalkville Middle School
High : ClayChalkville High School

Is Clay Elementary School a good school?

Clay Elementary School ranks 475^th of 680 Alabama elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Clay Elementary School in?

Jefferson County

How many students attend Clay Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 606 students attended Clay Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Clay Elementary School?

Students at Clay Elementary School are 62% African American, 18% White, 10% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races.

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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.