Summary:
Zip code 35473, covering the Northport area of Alabama, is home to two public elementary schools serving grades PK through 4th grade, both part of the Tuscaloosa County school district.
There is a stark contrast between the two schools in this area. Faucett-Vestavia Elementary School is the clear standout, consistently earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the top 26% of all elementary schools in Alabama (94th out of 686). Its academic performance is strong across all subjects and grade levels, with 86% of 4th graders proficient in English and 68% in Science. In comparison, Flatwoods Elementary School is struggling, ranking in the bottom 29% (519th out of 686) with a 1-star rating. Flatwoods shows a particularly concerning drop in English proficiency from 3rd grade (60.94%) to 4th grade (34.29%), a decline not seen at Faucett-Vestavia, where 4th-grade scores are actually higher than 3rd-grade scores.
Key differences also exist in demographics and attendance. Flatwoods has a significantly higher free/reduced lunch rate (68.63%) compared to Faucett-Vestavia (46.94%), and its chronic absenteeism rate (7.8%) is nearly double that of Faucett-Vestavia (4.7%). Interestingly, Flatwoods actually spends more per student ($9,480) than Faucett-Vestavia ($8,445), yet its outcomes are far worse, suggesting that funding alone is not the solution. Both schools have similar student-teacher ratios (around 14-15:1). For parents, this data paints a clear picture: Faucett-Vestavia offers a consistently high-quality education with strong attendance, while Flatwoods faces significant academic challenges, particularly in upper elementary grades, despite having more resources per student.
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