Summary:
Zip code 35476 in Northport, Alabama, is served by two elementary schools—Matthews Elementary School and Crestmont Elementary School—both part of the Tuscaloosa County district and both serving grades PK-4.
These two schools face significant academic challenges, with both ranking in the bottom 10% of Alabama elementary schools in the most recent state rankings. Matthews Elementary School (401 students) and Crestmont Elementary School (268 students) both show proficiency rates in math, English, and science that trail district and state averages by wide margins—often by 20 to 30 percentage points. For example, only about 15% of Matthews 3rd graders and 18% of Crestmont 3rd graders are proficient in math, compared to a 45% state average. English scores are stronger at both schools but still well below state norms. Both schools serve predominantly low-income families, with 87% of Matthews students and 75% of Crestmont students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
There are some notable differences between the two. Crestmont Elementary School has better attendance (7.5% chronic absenteeism vs. 12.2% at Matthews), a lower student-teacher ratio (13.4:1 vs. 15.2:1), and higher per-student spending ($10,253 vs. $9,484). Yet despite these advantages, Crestmont's state ranking has fallen sharply from the 27th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 10th percentile in 2025-2026, while Matthews has remained consistently low. Neither school shows consistent superiority across all subjects—Matthews does better in 4th grade math and English, while Crestmont leads in 3rd grade subjects and 4th grade science. Both schools have received only 0-1 star ratings, making them priority candidates for improvement efforts within the district.
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