Summary:
Zip code 35111 (Mc Calla, AL) is home to 2 elementary schools serving 1,361 students in grades Pre-K through 5th grade across two different county districts: Lake View Elementary School (Tuscaloosa County) and McAdory Elementary School (Jefferson County).
For parents comparing the two schools, McAdory Elementary is the one on the rise. Its state ranking has climbed from the 33rd percentile in 2023-2024 to the 40th percentile in 2025-2026, and it now outperforms Lake View Elementary in overall ranking despite belonging to a lower-rated district (Jefferson County ranks 101st of 139 districts). McAdory also posts stronger math scores in 3rd and 4th grades (36% and 41.9% proficiency vs. Lake View's 29.2% and 29.1%) and has a lower chronic absenteeism rate (9.7% vs. 12.1%), even though it serves a higher-poverty population (50.4% free/reduced lunch vs. 41.5%). Meanwhile, Lake View Elementary is the consistent performer, holding steady at the 37th percentile and showing a clear strength in English Language Arts, where its 5th-grade proficiency (68.2%) nearly matches the state average (69.5%). Both schools struggle most with 5th-grade math, where proficiency rates (25.2% and 26.2%) fall well below the state average of 39.1%.
The most important takeaway for parents is that both schools share a common challenge: significant year-to-year volatility in test scores. For example, McAdory's 3rd-grade math dropped from 59.6% to 36% in one year, while Lake View's 5th-grade math fell from 35.5% to 25.2%. This makes single-year comparisons unreliable, so look at multi-year trends when evaluating either school. On spending, McAdory uses its slightly higher per-student budget ($8,246 vs. $8,043) to achieve better math outcomes despite higher poverty, suggesting efficient resource use. If literacy is your priority, Lake View has the edge; if you value upward momentum and math improvement in lower grades, McAdory is the stronger choice.
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