Summary:
Zip code 35473 in Northport, Alabama, is served by two elementary schools—Flatwoods Elementary School and Faucett-Vestavia Elementary School—both part of the Tuscaloosa County district and both serving grades PK-4.
These two schools present a stark contrast in academic performance. Faucett-Vestavia Elementary School is the clear standout, earning a 4-star rating and ranking 94th out of 686 schools statewide for 2025-2026 (86th percentile). It significantly exceeds state averages in every subject, with particularly strong results in 4th grade English (86% proficiency vs. 59.5% statewide) and 4th grade science (68% vs. 50.2%). The school has also improved its state ranking each year, jumping from 179th to 94th. In contrast, Flatwoods Elementary School holds a 1-star rating, ranking 519th (24th percentile), and shows a troubling decline between 3rd and 4th grade—English proficiency drops from 60.9% to 34.3%. The achievement gap between the two schools is substantial, ranging from 28 to 52 percentage points across subjects.
Demographics and operations also differ. Flatwoods serves a higher-poverty population (68.6% free/reduced lunch vs. 46.9% at Faucett-Vestavia) and spends more per student ($9,480 vs. $8,445), yet achieves lower outcomes. Both schools have low chronic absenteeism (7.8% and 4.7%, respectively, vs. 12% statewide) and similar student-teacher ratios (about 14.5:1). The gap between the schools is widening—they were 306 ranking positions apart in 2024-2025 and 425 positions apart in 2025-2026—suggesting Flatwoods may need targeted intervention while Faucett-Vestavia continues to build on its success.
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