Summary:
Zip code 35071 in Gardendale, AL is home to two public elementary schools—Gardendale Elementary School and Snow Rogers Elementary School—both serving grades PK through 5 within the Jefferson County school district.
These two schools offer distinct strengths, making the choice largely dependent on a child’s needs. Gardendale Elementary is the larger school (700 students) and stands out as a mathematics powerhouse, with proficiency rates in math significantly exceeding district and state averages across all grade levels—for example, 5th grade math proficiency hit 47.76% in 2025-2026, about 20 points above the district. Snow Rogers Elementary (389 students) excels in English Language Arts and Science, posting a remarkable 82.46% proficiency in 5th grade English in 2024-2025, nearly 24 points above the district. Snow Rogers also benefits from a more favorable student-teacher ratio (15.9 vs. 19.4) and higher per-student spending ($9,888 vs. $8,994), which likely supports its strong performance in non-math subjects. Both schools are ranked in the top 40% of Alabama schools (Gardendale at 243rd, Snow Rogers at 268th out of 686) and have excellent attendance, with chronic absenteeism around 8-9%—roughly half the state average.
While both schools consistently outperform the Jefferson County district average by 15-20 percentage points in most subjects, their performance relative to the state is more mixed: they are above state averages in English but slightly below in math. Both schools have seen a gradual decline in state percentile rankings over the past three years, suggesting other schools are improving faster. For parents, Gardendale Elementary is ideal for students who thrive in a larger setting and need strong math instruction, while Snow Rogers Elementary offers a smaller, more personalized environment with exceptional English and Science programs. Both share a positive school culture and engaged families, making either a solid choice in this area.
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