Summary:
Zip code 35243, spanning parts of Vestavia Hills and Hoover, Alabama, is home to three exceptional elementary schools serving grades Pre-K through 5th grade with a combined enrollment of roughly 1,685 students. These schools belong to two of Alabama's top districts—Vestavia Hills City (ranked #2 in the state) and Hoover City (ranked #13)—and all three hold 5-star ratings, making this one of the strongest educational zip codes in Alabama.
Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge is the top performer, ranking #21 in the state (97th percentile) with exceptional math and English scores, including a remarkable 96.77% proficiency in 5th-grade English. Its chronic absenteeism rate of 3.1% is far below the state average of 12.0%. Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights shows the most dramatic improvement, jumping 33 spots to #26 in the state, with near-perfect attendance (0.7% chronic absenteeism) and standout 5th-grade math proficiency at 82.98%. Rocky Ridge Elementary School, while the lowest-ranked of the three, still outperforms 83% of Alabama schools and offers the smallest class sizes with a 14:1 student-teacher ratio, serving a more economically diverse population (36.4% free/reduced lunch).
All three schools excel in English proficiency, with most grade levels exceeding 80%—well above state averages. A notable pattern is Dolly Ridge's consistent 4th-grade math dip, which may reflect a curriculum transition rather than a cohort issue. Cahaba Heights' 28-point jump in 5th-grade math proficiency highlights year-over-year volatility, so single-year data should be viewed cautiously. Despite socioeconomic differences, all schools maintain strong academic outcomes, and the combination of elite district support, low absenteeism, and high achievement ensures families in this zip code have access to outstanding educational options no matter which school their child attends.
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