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Sugar Creek Elementary School

Q: Is Sugar Creek Elementary School a good school?

Sugar Creek Elementary School ranks 304 th of 686 Alabama elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

304^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 686 Alabama Elementary Schools

Better than 56% of Alabama elementary schools

Summary

Sugar Creek Elementary School in Lester, AL, serves 631 students from Pre-K through 5th grade as part of the Limestone County school district, and it stands out for achieving strong academic results despite serving a community where about 62% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

The school's biggest strength is early mathematics. In 3rd grade, 46.53% of students are proficient in math, compared to just 32.4% across the district, and in 4th grade, 52.34% are proficient—a figure that beats every nearby school, including Lexington Elementary (46.15%), Blue Springs Elementary (39.08%), and Elkmont Elementary (47.31%). English Language Arts scores are also consistently above district and state averages in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. The school is particularly effective with English Language Learners, ranking in the 74th percentile statewide for this group—far above its overall 56th percentile ranking. With a student-teacher ratio of 14.6:1, classrooms are smaller than at most neighboring schools, which likely supports this early success. The school also spends less per student ($9,525) than nearby Brookhill Elementary ($12,330) or Julian Newman Elementary ($12,072), making its results particularly efficient.

However, there are areas of concern. Math proficiency drops sharply by 5th grade, where only 33.72% of students are proficient versus the state average of 39.06%—a pattern that has persisted for three straight years. There is also a growing gap between male and female students, with boys ranking in the 64th percentile and girls in the 44th percentile. Chronic absenteeism has improved dramatically, falling from 18.6% to 13.3% in one year, though it remains above the district average of 7.2%. Support for special education students has been inconsistent, fluctuating from the 69th percentile to the 21st percentile over recent years. Overall, Sugar Creek has shown it can achieve impressive results with efficient resources, but the 5th grade math decline and gender disparity are worth asking about when you visit.

631

Students ?

14.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,525

Per pupil spending ?

62%

Free/discounted lunch ?

26595 Salem Minor Hill Road
Lester, AL 35647

(256) 233-6669

District: Limestone County

Students who attend Sugar Creek Elementary School usually attend:

High:

West Limestone High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

71.8%

Hispanic:

19.0%

Two or more races:

6.5%

See top rated Alabama elementary schools

Compare Sugar Creek Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 73rd percentile in 2022 → 56th in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the Alabama median (56th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 73rd-percentile peak (2022) to 56th (2026)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school54%

District avg44%

Alabama avg53%

304^th of 686

Alabama public elementary schools ?

Top 44%▲ up 6 pts since 2016

From bottom 49% (2016) to top 44% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Alabama Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 7Elementary Schools in the Limestone County

80^th of 139Limestone 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	56.2	304 of 686	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	60.3	276 of 680	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.9	214 of 684	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.6	226 of 680	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	69.5	186 of 687	72.9%	★★★★☆
2021	68.6	198 of 692	71.4%	★★★★☆
2019	47.3	376 of 681	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.6	388 of 680	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2017	42.5	422 of 688	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2016	49.2	351 of 691	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2015	41.0	417 of 691	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2014	50.2	347 of 695	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	39.6	520 of 696	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	26.0	597 of 696	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	41.8	508 of 709	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	35.5	543 of 704	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	52.5	366 of 696	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2008	46.1	416 of 698	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2007	50.9	379 of 698	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2006	57.9	293 of 689	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2005	46.6	406 of 688	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2004	51.8	316 of 623	49.3%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	60.9	37 of 143	74.1%	★★★★☆
2025	51.9	65 of 142	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.6	21 of 131	84.0%	★★★★☆
2023	55.7	35 of 123	71.5%	★★★★☆
2022	47.5	53 of 110	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	46.9	38 of 100	62.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	46.4	366 of 652	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	47.0	359 of 649	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	59.6	251 of 650	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.0	242 of 645	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.2	241 of 656	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	71.9	146 of 656	77.7%	★★★★☆
2019	48.3	350 of 646	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.7	388 of 640	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2017	37.7	422 of 639	34.0%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	46.4	113 of 206	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.0	94 of 196	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.2	78 of 184	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	44.0	102 of 175	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	48.1	80 of 164	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	35.8	106 of 152	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	37.2	93 of 140	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	41.4	78 of 130	40.0%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	54.5	292 of 668	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	58.7	259 of 660	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.8	160 of 670	76.1%	★★★★☆
2023	71.2	139 of 623	77.7%	★★★★☆
2022	61.0	232 of 651	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	71.6	142 of 653	78.3%	★★★★☆
2019	51.7	315 of 649	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	44.5	389 of 651	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	34.7	402 of 567	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	63.2	238 of 660	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	70.3	190 of 651	70.8%	★★★★☆
2024	68.3	196 of 655	70.1%	★★★★☆
2023	65.8	208 of 649	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	74.1	145 of 669	78.3%	★★★★☆
2021	63.3	222 of 669	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	45.8	369 of 650	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.4	335 of 650	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2017	46.9	360 of 639	43.7%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	49.4	97 of 194	50.0%	★★★☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2022	56.5	19 of 65	70.8%	★★★★☆
2021	47.3	34 of 63	46.0%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	42.4	215 of 403	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	27.8	317 of 403	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	60.3	121 of 395	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	73.1	53 of 373	85.8%	★★★★☆
2022	65.9	79 of 345	77.1%	★★★★☆
2021	53.8	142 of 398	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	52.2	154 of 392	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.9	134 of 344	61.0%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	36.9	335 of 500	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	49.8	277 of 532	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.0	246 of 535	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.3	249 of 528	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.9	205 of 540	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	54.6	216 of 539	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	32.4	385 of 529	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	28.9	398 of 508	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	24.7	313 of 369	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2026)74th percentile+18 vs school

Native American (2022)71st percentile~ school

Male (2026)64th percentile+8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)56th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2026)50th percentile-6 vs school

Special Education (2026)47th percentile-9 vs school

Hispanic (2025)45th percentile-14 vs school

Female (2026)44th percentile-12 vs school

White (2026)33rd percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs Alabama (2025-2026) ?

English65%~ state avg

Science50%~ state avg

Mathematics44%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Sugar Creek 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 Mathematics 6th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 4th Grade	Summative Assessment English 3rd Grade	Summative Assessment English 4th Grade	Summative Assessment English 5th Grade	Summative Assessment English 6th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Sugar Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	26595 Salem Minor Hill Road	Lester	35647	Limestone County	Limestone County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 233-6669	631	43	14.6	62.0%	453 (71.8%)	14 (2.2%)	120 (19.0%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (6.5%)	56.2	304^th of 686 public elementary schools	55.7%		60.3	276^th of 680 public elementary schools	59.4%	28	46.5	52.3	33.7		50.5	67.7	61.7	65.5		$9,525	$1,698	$7,813
Elkmont Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	25630 Evans Street	Elkmont	35620	Limestone County	Limestone County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 732-4291	599	38	15.7	63.6%	455 (76.0%)	15 (2.5%)	103 (17.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (4.2%)	51	350^th of 686 public elementary schools	49.0%		56.6	308^th of 680 public elementary schools	54.7%	42	36.6	47.3	39.7		52.7	59.2	51.6	71.8		$9,722	$827	$8,880
Blue Springs Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	16787 Hardy Road	Athens	35611	Limestone County	Limestone County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 729-4092	558	34	16.4	70.8%	368 (65.9%)	28 (5.0%)	114 (20.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (8.1%)	46.1	388^th of 686 public elementary schools	43.4%		46.2	382^nd of 680 public elementary schools	43.8%	6	42.4	39.1	27.8		50.0	59.8	46.0	75.0		$10,891	$2,149	$8,728
James L Cowart Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-3	1701 W Hobbs St	Athens	35611	Limestone County	Athens City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 233-6627	332	20	16.6	69.3%	121 (36.4%)	94 (28.3%)	91 (27.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	25 (7.5%)								(n/a)	33.3					51.9				$12,048	$1,663	$10,384
Athens Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-3	515 N Madison St	Athens	35611	Limestone County	Athens City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 233-6609	474	29	16.6	67.5%	160 (33.8%)	82 (17.3%)	194 (40.9%)	6 (1.3%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	29 (6.1%)								(n/a)	43.6					63.8				$11,217	$2,596	$8,621
Athens Intermediate School	Public	4-5	1916 Us Hwy 72 W	Athens	35611	Limestone County	Athens City	No	No	No	No	(256) 230-2880	641	36	17.8	55.9%	305 (47.6%)	127 (19.8%)	157 (24.5%)	9 (1.4%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (6.2%)	62.6	255^th of 686 public elementary schools	62.8%		61.5	264^th of 680 public elementary schools	61.2%	9		35.7	44.5		59.3		67.2	73.4		$8,556	$1,308	$7,248
Lauderdale Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	201 Cedar Street	Rogersville	35652	Lauderdale County	Lauderdale County	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(256) 247-3414	746	41	18.1	39.5%	666 (89.3%)	25 (3.4%)	16 (2.1%)	6 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	30 (4.0%)	66.3	227^th of 686 public elementary schools	66.9%		52.9	335^th of 680 public elementary schools	50.7%	108	50.7	60.8	56.4	36.7	55.7	72.7	58.8	73.4	57.8
Julian Newman Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-3	601 S Clinton Street	Athens	35611	Limestone County	Athens City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 233-6630	409	23	17.7	44.5%	216 (52.8%)	64 (15.6%)	71 (17.4%)	16 (3.9%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (9.5%)								(n/a)	40.0					68.7				$12,072	$1,697	$10,374
Brookhill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-3	320 Brookhill Dr	Athens	35611	Limestone County	Athens City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 233-6603	380	22	17.6	41.3%	250 (65.8%)	67 (17.6%)	39 (10.3%)	6 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.7%)								(n/a)	59.3					79.1				$12,330	$1,541	$10,789
Lexington Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	101 School Street	Lexington	35648	Lauderdale County	Lauderdale County	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(256) 229-6622	454	26	17.8	35.9%	430 (94.7%)	8 (1.8%)	8 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.8%)	76.8	144^th of 686 public elementary schools	79.0%		69.4	200^th of 680 public elementary schools	70.6%	56	82.7	46.2	39.7	55.2	63.1	84.6	69.2	77.8	69.0

Frequently Asked Questions about Sugar Creek Elementary School

What district is Sugar Creek Elementary School in?

Limestone County

What is the racial makeup of Sugar Creek Elementary School?

Students at Sugar Creek Elementary School are 72% White, 19% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 2% African American.

How many students attend Sugar Creek Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 631 students attended Sugar Creek Elementary School.

Is Sugar Creek Elementary School a good school?

Sugar Creek Elementary School ranks 304^th of 686 Alabama elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Sugar Creek Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Sugar Creek Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : West Limestone High School

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Latest Alabama data All new data »

2025–26 Summative Assessment scoresNewAug 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.