Summary:
Zip code 35173 in Trussville, AL, is home to three highly-rated elementary schools—Paine Elementary School, Cahaba Elementary School, and Magnolia Elementary School—all part of the top-ranked Trussville City district, which ranks 5th out of 139 districts in Alabama.
While all three schools perform well above state averages, Magnolia Elementary School stands out as the rising star. Despite having the highest percentage of students on free/reduced lunch (23.79%), it has climbed from a state ranking of 60th to 22nd in just two years, now leading the zip code in math proficiency (75.26% average) and 4th-grade science (88.73%). Its success likely stems from the lowest student-teacher ratio (13.4:1) and highest per-student spending ($12,087). Paine Elementary School is the largest school with 1,338 students and remains a consistent top-40 performer, though its math scores (70.88%) trail Magnolia's. Cahaba Elementary School excels in English (91.24% average) and showed the biggest science improvement (+12.11 points), reaching 82.11% proficiency.
A clear pattern emerges: smaller schools outperform larger ones academically, with Magnolia (391 students) beating Cahaba (542) and Paine (1,338) in math. English proficiency is a universal strength across all three schools, ranging from 88.78% to 91.24%, far exceeding state averages. Chronic absenteeism is remarkably low (5.0%–5.9% vs. 12% state average), reflecting strong community support. All schools posted double-digit gains in science, suggesting a successful district-wide curriculum initiative. For parents, this area offers exceptional educational options, with Magnolia's rapid improvement and targeted interventions making it particularly noteworthy, while Paine's scale and Cahaba's literacy strengths provide diverse alternatives within the same high-achieving district.
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