Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Big Sandy Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

516^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 686 Alabama Elementary Schools

Better than 25% of Alabama elementary schools

Summary

Big Sandy Elementary in Moundville, AL, is a rural PK-5 school serving 522 students within the Tuscaloosa County School District. While the school has seen a significant decline in its statewide ranking over the past decade—falling from a 4-star rating in the 82nd percentile in 2015-2016 to a 1-star rating in the 25th percentile today—there are important bright spots for parents to consider.

One of the school's clearest strengths is attendance. Only 5.4% of students were chronically absent in 2024-2025, which is less than half the district (11.8%) and state (12.0%) averages. This represents a remarkable improvement from the previous year. Academically, English Language Arts is a relative bright spot, with 5th graders scoring 64.94% proficient—within 5 points of the state average. However, math proficiency is a critical concern. Only 15.58% of 5th graders are proficient in math, which is the lowest among all comparable nearby schools and nearly 24 points below the state average. Science scores have also declined sharply over the past three years.

Perhaps the most instructive comparison is with Myrtlewood Elementary, located just 6.5 miles away and serving a nearly identical percentage of students from low-income families (46.07% vs. 46.17%). Yet Myrtlewood outperforms Big Sandy by 10-20 percentage points across every subject and grade level and ranks in the 51st percentile statewide. This suggests the challenges at Big Sandy are not driven by student demographics but by school-level factors that could be addressed through targeted interventions. With a student-teacher ratio of 17.8 (on the higher end) and per-student spending of $9,270 (mid-range), parents may want to ask district leadership about the school's math and science instructional strategies and what plans are in place to reverse the recent academic trends.

522

Students ?

17.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,135

Per pupil spending ?

46.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

11950 Upper Hull Road
Moundville, AL 35474

(205) 342-2840

District: Tuscaloosa County

Students who attend Big Sandy Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Duncanville Middle School
High:	Hillcrest High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

50.6%

White:

39.1%

Hispanic:

6.9%

See top rated Alabama elementary schools

Compare Big Sandy Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 82nd percentile in 2016 → 25th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Alabama average (36% vs 53% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (25th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 57 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school36%

District avg45%

Alabama avg53%

516^th of 686

Alabama public elementary schools ?

Bottom 25%▼ down 57 pts since 2016

From top 18% (2016) to bottom 25% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Alabama Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

11^th of 17Elementary Schools in the Tuscaloosa County

90^th of 140Tuscaloosa 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	25.6	516 of 686	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	41.5	414 of 680	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.1	397 of 684	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.8	328 of 680	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.8	234 of 687	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	71.9	168 of 692	75.7%	★★★★☆
2019	72.0	161 of 681	76.4%	★★★★☆
2018	76.3	150 of 680	77.9%	★★★★☆
2017	72.7	158 of 688	77.0%	★★★★☆
2016	78.0	126 of 691	81.8%	★★★★☆
2015	76.0	136 of 691	80.3%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	37.0	262 of 428	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	49.4	190 of 427	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	50.4	182 of 420	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.0	141 of 427	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	68.0	90 of 426	78.9%	★★★★☆
2021	66.9	101 of 426	76.3%	★★★★☆
2019	62.4	122 of 426	71.4%	★★★★☆
2018	67.5	100 of 423	76.4%	★★★★☆
2017	54.0	127 of 336	62.2%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	28.4	484 of 651	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	49.1	345 of 649	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	48.2	344 of 650	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	60.0	251 of 645	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	70.3	164 of 656	75.0%	★★★★☆
2021	78.5	104 of 656	84.1%	★★★★☆
2019	66.1	189 of 646	70.7%	★★★★☆
2018	67.6	191 of 640	70.2%	★★★★☆
2017	71.4	150 of 639	76.5%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	19.2	570 of 667	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	38.2	424 of 660	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.6	468 of 670	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	56.4	268 of 623	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.8	249 of 651	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.3	197 of 653	69.8%	★★★★☆
2019	78.8	75 of 649	88.4%	★★★★☆
2018	62.0	226 of 651	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	46.1	323 of 567	43.0%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	23.8	508 of 659	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	35.4	431 of 651	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.1	424 of 655	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.8	371 of 649	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	53.0	320 of 669	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.5	228 of 669	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	71.5	161 of 650	75.2%	★★★★☆
2018	78.3	127 of 650	80.5%	★★★★☆
2017	70.4	152 of 639	76.2%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	35.2	263 of 403	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.1	234 of 403	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	36.2	257 of 392	34.4%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	14.8	467 of 501	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	42.9	315 of 532	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.0	294 of 535	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.4	238 of 528	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.7	187 of 540	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	73.9	112 of 539	79.2%	★★★★☆
2019	70.2	124 of 529	76.6%	★★★★☆
2018	70.6	129 of 508	74.6%	★★★★☆
2017	66.6	107 of 369	71.0%	★★★★☆

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)

African American (2026)39th percentile+14 vs school

Special Education (2026)35th percentile+10 vs school

Female (2026)26th percentile~ school

Male (2026)23rd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)15th percentile-10 vs school

White (2026)7th percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs Alabama (2025-2026) ?

English58%-7 vs state

Science21%-29 vs state

Mathematics19%-23 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

Rate Big Sandy Elementary

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, July 18, 2016

BIG SANDY ELEMENTARY IS A GREAT SCHOOL!!!! THE STAFF IS AWESOME Close Quote

Schools Near Big Sandy Elementary

Load more schools when map is moved

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
Big Sandy Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	11950 Upper Hull Road	Moundville	35474	Hale County	Tuscaloosa County	No	No	No	No	(205) 342-2840	522	29	17.8	46.2%	204 (39.1%)	264 (50.6%)	36 (6.9%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (2.9%)	25.6	516^th of 686 public elementary schools	24.8%		41.5	414^th of 680 public elementary schools	39.1%	102	22.8	20.0	15.6	21.2	57.6	50.6	64.9	$9,135	$1,020	$8,083
Englewood Elementary School	Public	3-5	10300 Old Greensboro Rd	Tuscaloosa	35405	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa County	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 342-2644	522	28	18.6	60.9%	67 (12.8%)	402 (77.0%)	15 (2.9%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	31 (5.9%)	21.3	542^nd of 686 public elementary schools	21.0%		25.7	508^th of 680 public elementary schools	25.3%	34	13.3	15.2	17.2	22.6	46.4	48.8	66.7	$10,668	$2,611	$8,023
Moundville Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	537 Alabama Ave	Moundville	35474	Hale County	Hale County	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 371-2679	586	36	16.2	53.9%	283 (48.3%)	277 (47.3%)	12 (2.0%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	10 (1.7%)	40.5	429^th of 686 public elementary schools	37.5%		35	452^nd of 680 public elementary schools	33.5%	23	31.3	25.3	34.0	41.0	62.5	48.2	75.3	$12,526	$3,732	$8,780
Taylorville Primary School	Public	PK, KG-2	350 Bobby Miller Pkwy	Tuscaloosa	35405	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa County	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 342-2939	578	31	18.6	58.7%	82 (14.2%)	427 (73.9%)	24 (4.2%)	8 (1.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (6.2%)								(n/a)								$11,149	$2,064	$9,053
Myrtlewood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	14701 Gainsville Rd	Fosters	35463	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa County	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 342-2658	280	20	14.0	46.1%	175 (62.5%)	86 (30.7%)	12 (4.3%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.1%)	52.9	336^th of 686 public elementary schools	51.0%		60.6	272^nd of 680 public elementary schools	60.0%	64	38.8	40.4		42.3	67.4	69.2		$12,384	$2,532	$9,820
Maxwell Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	11370 Monticello Dr	Duncanville	35456	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa County	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 342-2656	511	32	15.7	61.6%	279 (54.6%)	138 (27.0%)	65 (12.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (5.7%)	36.8	452^nd of 686 public elementary schools	34.1%		52.7	336^th of 680 public elementary schools	50.6%	116	30.7	23.9	30.3	38.6	59.7	50.0	71.1	$10,105	$1,952	$8,120
Skyland Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	408 Skyland Boulevard East	Tuscaloosa	35405	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 759-3638	459	28	16.5	76.5%	7 (1.5%)	364 (79.3%)	73 (15.9%)	3 (0.7%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.0%)	29.4	491^st of 686 public elementary schools	28.4%		22	529^th of 680 public elementary schools	22.2%	38	28.0	29.8	33.3	28.1	55.4	36.8	63.6	$14,239	$3,271	$10,920
Southview Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2601 Southview Drive	Tuscaloosa	35405	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 345-1325	644	36	17.7	66.5%	11 (1.7%)	597 (92.7%)	19 (3.0%)	4 (0.6%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (1.7%)	25.1	519^th of 686 public elementary schools	24.3%		24	513^th of 680 public elementary schools	24.6%	6	25.0	21.5	28.9	23.7	61.1	46.2	50.0	$10,944	$2,337	$8,566
Oakdale Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5001 25th Street	Tuscaloosa	35401	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 759-3626	292	22	13.4	80.5%	3 (1.0%)	264 (90.4%)	16 (5.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.4%)	28.3	497^th of 686 public elementary schools	27.6%		18.1	559^th of 680 public elementary schools	17.8%	62	42.5	21.1	20.9	10.5	72.5	42.1	48.8	$17,744	$5,875	$11,648
Martin L King Junior Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2430 Martin L King Jr Blvd	Tuscaloosa	35401	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 759-3619	467	28	16.6	79.2%	1 (0.2%)	413 (88.4%)	49 (10.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	23.2	531^st of 686 public elementary schools	22.6%		19.8	544^th of 680 public elementary schools	20.0%	13	25.7	27.1	29.8	13.6	44.3	49.2	54.4	$13,038	$3,224	$9,769

Frequently Asked Questions about Big Sandy Elementary

What schools do graduates of Big Sandy Elementary attend?

Students who attend Big Sandy Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Duncanville Middle School
High : Hillcrest High School

Is Big Sandy Elementary a good school?

Big Sandy Elementary ranks in the bottom 24.8% of Alabama elementary schools.

How many students attend Big Sandy Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 522 students attended Big Sandy Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Big Sandy Elementary?

Students at Big Sandy Elementary are 51% African American, 39% White, 7% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

What district is Big Sandy Elementary in?

Tuscaloosa County

Rate Big Sandy Elementary!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

ALAlabama Elementary School Rankings

ALAlabama District Rankings

Schools in Moundville, AL

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Big Sandy Elementary!

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.