Summary:
Zip code 35243 in Alabama is served by three highly-rated public elementary schools—Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge, Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights, and Rocky Ridge Elementary School—which together educate 1,685 students across grades K-5 in the affluent suburbs of Birmingham.
For parents, the standout school academically is Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge, which holds the highest state ranking (50th out of 686) and is the only school in the area with a 5-star rating for three consecutive years. However, Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights is the most improved, jumping 29 spots in state rankings to 26th, and boasts an exceptionally low chronic absenteeism rate of just 0.7%—far better than the state average of 12%. Rocky Ridge Elementary School, part of Hoover City, has a more diverse socioeconomic profile with a 36.4% free/reduced lunch rate, yet still performs well above state averages. Both Vestavia Hills schools are in the top-ranked Vestavia Hills City district, which is 2nd in the state.
Key differences emerge in math proficiency. Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge shows a concerning 19-point drop in math proficiency from 3rd to 4th grade (76% to 57%), while Rocky Ridge Elementary School sees a steady decline from 59% in 3rd grade to 48% in 5th grade. In contrast, Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights demonstrates consistent high performance across all subjects, with exceptional 4th-grade science scores at 90%. Despite Rocky Ridge Elementary School having the best student-teacher ratio (14:1), the Vestavia Hills schools outperform it academically, suggesting district resources and demographics play a larger role than class size alone. Overall, families in 35243 have excellent options, with Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights emerging as the rising star for its rapid improvement and outstanding attendance.
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