Summary:
Zip code 35805 in Huntsville, AL, is served by four schools in the Huntsville City district—three elementary schools and one middle school—with a combined enrollment of 1,903 students and no high schools in the immediate area.
For parents, the standout choice in this zip code is Ridgecrest Elementary School, which leads the pack academically. It has the best state ranking (537th of 686), the highest math proficiency rates (24.6% in 3rd grade and 31.9% in 4th grade), and the lowest student-teacher ratio at 15.4:1. Ridgecrest has also improved its ranking for three consecutive years. In contrast, McDonnell Elementary School is the most concerning, ranking in the 4th percentile statewide with declining math scores (as low as 9.7% proficiency) and a higher student-teacher ratio of 18.9:1. Morris Elementary School sits in the middle, with moderate English scores but weak math performance. Morris Middle School struggles academically—especially in math, where 8th grade proficiency is just 5.6%—but shines with a chronic absenteeism rate of only 3.8%, far better than the district (8.2%) and state (12.0%) averages.
Across all schools, a clear pattern emerges: English proficiency consistently outpaces math, and there is a troubling "5th grade math cliff" where proficiency drops by over 50% at every elementary school. All four schools serve high-poverty populations (66.5% to 74.1% free/reduced lunch) and rank in the bottom quarter of Alabama schools, despite the district being mid-tier. Notably, per-student spending does not predict success—McDonnell spends more than Morris Elementary yet performs worse. While Ridgecrest shows a positive trajectory, McDonnell's decline and the systemic math gaps are the most pressing issues for families to consider.
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