Summary:
Zip code 35406 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama is home to two highly-rated elementary schools—Rock Quarry Elementary School and Verner Elementary School—both serving grades PK-5 within the Tuscaloosa City school district.
Rock Quarry is the standout performer, earning a 5-star rating and ranking in the top 7% of all Alabama elementary schools (48th out of 686). It consistently outpaces Verner in nearly every subject, particularly in English where proficiency rates exceed 88% across all grade levels—a remarkable 24-31 point advantage over state averages. Rock Quarry also shows a strong upward trend in math, with proficiency climbing from 59.6% in 3rd grade to 76.4% in 5th grade. Verner, while not matching Rock Quarry's elite status, is still a strong 4-star school ranking in the top 13% statewide. Its English scores are also impressive, exceeding state averages by 12-22 points, and its 4th grade math proficiency hit 77.9% in the 2024-2025 school year—though that cohort dipped to 69.9% in 5th grade, suggesting a possible standout teacher effect.
Both schools dramatically outperform their district, which holds only a 2-star rating. They also benefit from very low chronic absenteeism (3.5% at Rock Quarry, 6.4% at Verner) compared to the state average of 12%, and serve relatively affluent populations with low free/reduced lunch rates (13.4% and 19.7%, respectively). Per-student spending is nearly identical at roughly $10,000, and student-teacher ratios are comparable (17.3:1 and 17.9:1). Science is the relative weakness for both schools, though they still exceed state averages. The gap between the two schools has narrowed over three years, from 71 ranking positions to 42, making this zip code a clear pocket of educational advantage within a struggling district.
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