Summary:
Zip code 35404 in Tuscaloosa, AL, is home to four elementary schools serving approximately 1,822 students across grades PK through 8, split between the Tuscaloosa City and Tuscaloosa County districts.
For parents, the standout choice is clearly Tuscaloosa Magnet School Elementary, which ranks in the 94th percentile statewide with a 5-star rating. Its academic performance is exceptional—English proficiency reaches 98% in 5th grade, and it has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (2.6%) in the area. In stark contrast, Holt Elementary School ranks in the 6th percentile with 0 stars, and only 7.46% of its 3rd graders are proficient in math versus the state average of 44.89%. Arcadia Elementary School is a concerning case, having dropped from the 47th to the 29th percentile in two years, with 5th grade math proficiency falling from 45.1% to 26.19%. The Alberta School of Performing Arts is the most inconsistent, with 6th graders achieving 76.92% proficiency in math and English, but 7th and 8th graders falling well below state averages.
Economic factors correlate strongly with outcomes: Tuscaloosa Magnet School Elementary has a 27.78% free/reduced lunch rate, while Holt Elementary School has 82.37%. However, all four schools have chronic absenteeism below the state average of 12%, and spending per student is nearly identical (ranging from $10,575 to $11,471), showing that money alone doesn't drive success. The magnet school's achievement with similar funding points to curriculum and student selection as key factors. The Alberta School of Performing Arts shows strong momentum, climbing from the 31st to 49th percentile, while Arcadia Elementary School needs attention to reverse its decline.
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