Summary:
Zip code 35456 in Duncanville, AL, is served by a single elementary school, Maxwell Elementary School, which enrolls 511 students in grades PK-5 as part of the Tuscaloosa County district.
For parents considering this area, Maxwell Elementary presents a mixed but informative profile. The school's greatest strength is in English Language Arts, particularly in 5th grade, where 71.05% of students are proficient—a rate that beats both the district (66.85%) and state (69.53%) averages. However, math proficiency is a clear challenge, with 4th-grade math at just 23.86% and 5th-grade math at 30.26%, both well below state averages. Science in 4th grade (38.64%) also trails the state (50.23%). The school holds a 2-star rating, ranking 453rd out of 686 schools statewide and 87th out of 139 in the district. Notably, the school outperforms its district in 3rd and 5th-grade math and English, suggesting it is a relative bright spot within Tuscaloosa County despite its overall low ranking.
One of the most striking findings is the significant year-over-year volatility in test scores. For example, 5th-grade math plummeted from 52.33% to 30.26% between the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years, while 3rd-grade math improved from 22.34% to 30.65%. This instability makes it difficult to predict future performance. Additionally, 4th grade appears to be a particularly challenging year, with the lowest proficiency rates in both math and English. On a positive note, the school has a lower chronic absenteeism rate (10.8%) than the district (11.8%) and state (12.0%), and a favorable student-teacher ratio of 15.7. With over 61% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch, the school serves a predominantly low-income population, yet still manages to beat district averages in several subjects—a testament to its resilience, though the overall academic struggles in STEM subjects remain a key area for improvement.
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