Summary:
Zip code 35222 in Birmingham, Alabama, is home to two elementary schools—Hayes K8 and Avondale Elementary School—serving roughly 1,032 students in pre-kindergarten through 5th or 8th grade, within the Birmingham City school district.
These two schools tell very different stories. Avondale Elementary School is the clear standout, having climbed 164 spots in state rankings over two years to reach the 41st percentile. Its 3rd-grade English proficiency (67.24%) actually exceeds the state average, and its 3rd-grade math (44.83%) essentially matches it. By contrast, Hayes K8 ranks in the bottom 2% of Alabama elementary schools, with 3rd-grade math proficiency at just 18.06% and English at 25.00%. The achievement gap is stark: Avondale's 3rd-grade math proficiency is 2.5 times higher than Hayes K8's, and its English proficiency is nearly 2.7 times higher. Avondale also has a much healthier attendance picture, with a 10.6% chronic absenteeism rate versus Hayes K8's alarming 30.4%—more than double the district average.
One notable pattern at Avondale is a decline in proficiency as students advance: math drops from 44.83% in 3rd grade to just 13.64% in 5th grade, suggesting early instruction is strong but momentum fades. Hayes K8 shows some encouraging math gains in recent years, and its 8th-grade science proficiency (35.71%) exceeds its district average. Avondale also spends $752 more per student ($10,435 vs. $9,683) despite serving a less economically disadvantaged population. For parents, Avondale is clearly the higher-performing option, though its upper-grade trends warrant attention; Hayes K8 faces significant challenges, particularly around attendance, but shows signs of improvement in math.
Thank you for your feedback!