Summary:
Zip code 35079, encompassing the Hayden, AL area, is served by two public elementary schools within the Blount County district, which together educate roughly 828 students in grades Pre-K through 4th grade.
For parents, the standout school in this area is Hayden Elementary School, which serves 3rd and 4th graders and holds an impressive 4-star rating. This school significantly outperforms both district and state averages in English Language Arts, with 85.63% of 3rd graders and 73.46% of 4th graders proficient, compared to state averages of 64.75% and 59.53%, respectively. Math proficiency is also strong, with roughly 57% of 3rd graders and 56% of 4th graders meeting standards, well above state averages. Its state ranking has improved from the 77th to the 82nd percentile over the past two years. Meanwhile, Hayden Primary School, serving Pre-K through 2nd grade, excels in student engagement, boasting an exceptionally low chronic absenteeism rate of just 1.3%—far below the district's 3.1% and the state's 12.0%.
Both schools share a consistent socioeconomic profile, with about 36% of students receiving free or reduced lunch. However, there are notable operational differences: Hayden Primary has a more favorable student-teacher ratio of 15.5:1, while Hayden Elementary operates at 20.3:1, yet spends slightly more per student ($9,055 vs. $8,612). One area of concern is 4th-grade science at Hayden Elementary, where 61.11% proficiency, while above the state average of 50.23%, falls below the district average of 65.66%. Overall, this feeder pattern appears highly effective: students build strong attendance habits at Hayden Primary before transitioning to Hayden Elementary, which demonstrates proven academic success, particularly in reading. The only potential "slump" appears in math and science as students move from 3rd to 4th grade, suggesting a curriculum area worth monitoring.
Thank you for your feedback!