Summary:
Zip code 35209 in Homewood, Alabama is home to three elementary schools—Edgewood Elementary School, Hall Kent Elementary School, and Shades Cahaba Elementary School—all part of the highly-rated Homewood City district, which ranks in the 96th percentile statewide and serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade (with pre-K at Hall Kent).
For parents, the standout is Edgewood Elementary School, the largest school with 935 students, which ranks 16th in the state (98th percentile) and posts the highest English Language Arts scores—an extraordinary 98.25% proficiency in 5th grade. However, Shades Cahaba Elementary School is the rising star, jumping from 26th to 13th in the state in one year and leading all three schools in math (80.85% average) and 4th-grade science (89.87%). Hall Kent Elementary School, while ranked lower at 115th statewide, still far exceeds state averages—by nearly 18 points in math and 12 points in English—and serves a more diverse student body with 36% free/reduced lunch eligibility.
Key takeaways: all three schools dramatically outperform state proficiency averages, with chronic absenteeism rates (2.8–4.3%) far below the state's 12%. Interestingly, Edgewood spends the least per student ($10,200) yet achieves the best results, while Shades Cahaba spends the most ($12,104) and shows strong but not superior outcomes—suggesting factors like family engagement matter more than funding. Shades Cahaba also shows the most impressive growth, especially in 5th-grade math (a 23.5-point jump), while Hall Kent shows mixed year-over-year trends. Overall, this is an exceptional district where even the "lowest" school outperforms most of the state, making any of these three excellent choices for families.
Thank you for your feedback!