Summary:
Zip code 35040 in Calera, AL is served by two public elementary schools within the highly-rated Shelby County district, which together form a single educational pathway for grades K-5.
For parents, the most important takeaway is the stark contrast between the two schools. Calera Elementary (grades K-2) holds a 4-star rating and has shown historical improvement, but it struggles with a chronic absenteeism rate of 16.4%—well above the district and state averages. In contrast, Calera Intermediate School (grades 3-5) has a much healthier attendance rate of 10.7% and a better student-teacher ratio (15:1 vs. 18.2:1), yet it only earns a 2-star rating with test scores consistently below district averages. This creates a puzzling "K-2 vs. 3-5" gap: students appear to make gains in the early grades but then lose ground by 3rd-5th grade, suggesting a possible curriculum misalignment or a need for additional support in the intermediate years.
Both schools serve a majority low-income population (64-68% free/reduced lunch), which is notable given the district's overall high performance. The most significant academic deficits are at Calera Intermediate School, particularly in 4th-grade science (37.65% proficiency, 23.8 points below the district) and 4th-grade math (36.18% proficiency, 17.9 points below). Interestingly, Calera Elementary spends more per student ($10,354 vs. $9,273) despite its attendance challenges, raising questions about resource allocation. For parents, the key insight is that early elementary appears stronger, but the intermediate school needs targeted intervention in 4th-grade core subjects to close the achievement gap and improve its rating.
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