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Walter M Kennedy School

Q: Is Walter M Kennedy School a good school?

Walter M Kennedy School ranks 128 th of 686 Alabama elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-4

128^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 686 Alabama Elementary Schools

Better than 81% of Alabama elementary schools

Summary

Walter M Kennedy School is an elementary school in Pell City, AL, serving 437 students in grades K-4 as part of the Pell City district.

This school has become a standout for its remarkable turnaround. In just two years, Walter M Kennedy jumped from the 55th percentile to the 81st percentile in statewide rankings, a leap of over 180 places. What makes this even more impressive is that the school achieves this while serving a student body where more than 61% qualify for free or reduced lunch. In fact, the school ranks in the 91st percentile statewide for the academic performance of its low-income students, earning a 5-star rating. This is a significant achievement, especially when compared to nearby schools like Eden Elementary and C L Salter Elementary, which serve similar or higher levels of economically disadvantaged students but have notably lower test scores and rankings. Walter M Kennedy's success suggests highly effective support systems are in place for students who often face greater challenges.

Another major win is in attendance. The chronic absenteeism rate has plummeted from 17.8% in 2022-2023 to just 6.0% in 2024-2025—now half the state average. This improvement likely fuels the academic gains. The school shows particular strength in 3rd-grade math, with 66.67% proficiency, well above the state average (44.89%) and the highest among its district peers, including Iola Roberts Elementary and Coosa Valley Elementary. However, 4th-grade science is a relative weak point at 61.63% proficiency, below the district average. While Coosa Valley Elementary remains the district's top-ranked school overall, Walter M Kennedy's unique strength in early math and its exceptional results with low-income students make it a compelling choice for parents.

437

Students ?

17.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,071

Per pupil spending ?

61.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

250 Otis Perry Dr
Pell City, AL 35128-2037

(205) 338-7896

District: Pell City

Racial breakdown:

White:

74.4%

African American:

17.2%

Two or more races:

5.3%

See top rated Alabama elementary schools

Compare Walter M Kennedy School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 53rd percentile in 2016 → 81st in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Alabama average (67% vs 52% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 19% of Alabama elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 28 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

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

!Near the bottom of Pell City's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school67%

District avg66%

Alabama avg52%

128^th of 686

Alabama public elementary schools ?

Top 19%▲ up 28 pts since 2016

From top 47% (2016) to top 19% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Alabama Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 4Elementary Schools in the Pell City

31^st of 140Pell City 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	78.8	128 of 686	81.3%	★★★★☆
2025	74.7	157 of 680	76.9%	★★★★☆
2024	55.2	311 of 684	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.5	291 of 680	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.8	298 of 687	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.4	239 of 692	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	65.0	225 of 681	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.2	212 of 680	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	65.3	215 of 688	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	52.5	323 of 691	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2015	51.5	327 of 691	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2014	64.5	223 of 695	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	59.0	332 of 696	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2012	52.0	412 of 696	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2011	64.9	260 of 709	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	63.8	267 of 704	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2009	35.4	527 of 696	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	40.7	475 of 698	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2007	50.2	383 of 698	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2006	40.0	464 of 689	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2005	50.4	363 of 688	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2004	46.6	357 of 623	42.7%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	27.8	332 of 427	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	39.8	239 of 420	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.3	337 of 427	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	69.3	84 of 426	80.3%	★★★★☆
2021	56.1	149 of 426	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	55.3	160 of 426	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.8	190 of 423	55.1%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	83.5	89 of 651	86.3%	★★★★☆
2025	69.3	182 of 649	72.0%	★★★★☆
2024	52.6	304 of 650	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.0	288 of 645	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.7	317 of 656	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	58.2	258 of 656	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	55.7	275 of 646	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.9	288 of 640	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	65.1	196 of 639	69.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	83.1	63 of 667	90.6%	★★★★★
2025	76.8	106 of 660	83.9%	★★★★☆
2024	51.7	337 of 670	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	54.8	277 of 623	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.9	264 of 651	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.8	273 of 653	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	66.3	180 of 649	72.3%	★★★★☆
2018	67.4	182 of 651	72.0%	★★★★☆
2017	61.5	187 of 567	67.0%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	68.8	194 of 659	70.6%	★★★★☆
2025	76.8	130 of 651	80.0%	★★★★☆
2024	55.4	299 of 655	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.4	280 of 649	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.0	263 of 669	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.5	216 of 669	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	70.6	167 of 650	74.3%	★★★★☆
2018	77.9	129 of 650	80.2%	★★★★☆
2017	63.4	207 of 639	67.6%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	61.9	121 of 403	70.0%	★★★★☆
2025	77.7	54 of 403	86.6%	★★★★☆
2024	49.3	172 of 395	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.6	194 of 373	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	63.8	85 of 345	75.4%	★★★★☆
2021	68.3	72 of 398	81.9%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	68.1	145 of 501	71.1%	★★★★☆
2025	68.5	144 of 532	72.9%	★★★★☆
2024	45.6	298 of 535	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.6	282 of 528	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	37.2	341 of 540	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	51.4	242 of 539	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	48.9	260 of 529	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.8	211 of 508	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	38.8	220 of 369	40.4%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)91st percentile+9 vs school

Female (2026)86th percentile+5 vs school

White (2026)71st percentile-10 vs school

Male (2026)71st percentile-11 vs school

Special Education (2026)70th percentile-11 vs school

African American (2025)22nd percentile-55 vs school

By subject vs Alabama (2025-2026) ?

English74%+12 vs state

Mathematics62%+18 vs state

Science62%+11 vs state

★

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Schools Near Walter M Kennedy 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 (2023)
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 (2025)	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
Walter M Kennedy School	Public	K-4	250 Otis Perry Dr	Pell City	35128	St. Clair County	Pell City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 338-7896	437	25	17.4	61.3%	325 (74.4%)	75 (17.2%)	9 (2.1%)	4 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (5.3%)	78.8	128^th of 686 public elementary schools	81.3%		74.7	157^th of 680 public elementary schools	76.9%	29	66.7	57.0		61.6	79.1	68.6		$12,071	$2,918	$9,137
Coosa Valley Elementary School	Public	K-4	3609 Martin St S	Cropwell	35054	St. Clair County	Pell City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 338-7713	404	25	16.1	57.2%	317 (78.5%)	42 (10.4%)	13 (3.2%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (6.9%)	83.8	96^th of 686 public elementary schools	86.0%		85	85^th of 680 public elementary schools	87.5%	11	54.3	60.0		73.3	85.2	80.0		$11,243	$2,440	$8,788
Iola Roberts Elementary School	Public	K-4	810 Martin St N	Pell City	35125	St. Clair County	Pell City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 338-7312	402	27	14.8	73.4%	277 (68.9%)	69 (17.2%)	25 (6.2%)	6 (1.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (6.0%)	79.4	119^th of 686 public elementary schools	82.7%		72.1	173^rd of 680 public elementary schools	74.6%	54	59.5	55.4		72.3	73.8	74.7		$12,638	$3,523	$8,952
Eden Elementary School	Public	K-4	412 Wolf Creek Rd N	Pell City	35125	St. Clair County	Pell City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 338-6930	346	23	15.0	77.7%	282 (81.5%)	32 (9.2%)	14 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (5.2%)	64.8	239^th of 686 public elementary schools	65.2%		38.9	434^th of 680 public elementary schools	36.2%	195	52.1	42.9		62.3	69.0	64.3		$12,422	$2,593	$9,814
Stemley Road Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2760 Stemley Bridge Rd	Talladega	35160	Talladega County	Talladega County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 315-5325	356	18	20.1	67.7%	135 (37.9%)	204 (57.3%)	8 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.5%)	42.4	410^th of 686 public elementary schools	40.2%		24	514^th of 680 public elementary schools	24.4%	104	66.7	21.8	29.0	32.7	63.9	45.5	68.4	$13,377	$4,668	$8,696
Odenville Intermediate School	Public	3-5	300 Burgess Drive	Odenville	35120	St. Clair County	St Clair County	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 629-2246	355	18	19.7	59.2%	255 (71.8%)	45 (12.7%)	31 (8.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (6.2%)	57.5	289^th of 686 public elementary schools	57.9%		53.6	327^th of 680 public elementary schools	51.9%	38	24.8	41.2	30.8	67.0	74.2	66.7	75.0	$9,335	$955	$8,369
Odenville Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	420 Alabama Street	Odenville	35120	St. Clair County	St Clair County	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 629-6406	435	24	18.1	50.8%	298 (68.5%)	64 (14.7%)	34 (7.8%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (7.6%)								(n/a)								$14,837	$4,881	$9,924
Lincoln Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	79001 Al Hwy 77	Lincoln	35096	Talladega County	Talladega County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 315-5265	902	49	18.4	50.6%	553 (61.3%)	264 (29.3%)	23 (2.5%)	5 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (6.2%)	42	413^th of 686 public elementary schools	39.8%		43.1	401^st of 680 public elementary schools	41.0%	12	42.2	29.2	37.5	29.9	62.0	54.2	68.4	$10,239	$2,206	$8,020
Moody Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-3	1006 H L Blocker Cir	Moody	35004	St. Clair County	St Clair County	No	No	No	No	(205) 640-2180	839	46	18.2	40.0%	578 (68.9%)	114 (13.6%)	78 (9.3%)	12 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (6.8%)								(n/a)	48.5				82.5			$10,179	$1,155	$9,015
C L Salter Elementary School	Public	K-3	106 Brecon Access Rd	Talladega	35160	Talladega County	Talladega City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 315-5822	353	19	18.5	81.3%	44 (12.5%)	268 (75.9%)	24 (6.8%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.0%)								(n/a)	22.3				41.8			$14,333	$3,897	$10,370

Frequently Asked Questions about Walter M Kennedy School

Is Walter M Kennedy School a good school?

Walter M Kennedy School ranks 128^th of 686 Alabama elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Walter M Kennedy School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 437 students attended Walter M Kennedy School.

What district is Walter M Kennedy School in?

Pell City

What is the racial makeup of Walter M Kennedy School?

Students at Walter M Kennedy School are 74% White, 17% African American, 5% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic.

What schools do graduates of Walter M Kennedy School attend?

Students who attend Walter M Kennedy School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Duran Junior High School
Middle : Williams Intermediate School
High : Pell City High School

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Latest Alabama data All new data »

2019–20 through 2022–23 school spending dataNewOct 6, 2026

2025–26 Summative Assessment scoresAug 14, 2026

2024–25 attendance data & graduation ratesDec 27, 2025

2024–25 Summative Assessment scoresAug 14, 2025

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.