Summary:
Zip code 35811 in Huntsville, Alabama is home to five elementary schools serving 2,469 students across grades PK-8, split between the Madison County and Huntsville City districts.
For parents, the standout choice in this area is Mt Carmel Elementary School, which leads the zip code with a 4-star rating and the highest 3rd-grade math proficiency at 69.87%—well above the state average of 44.89%. Its English proficiency of 80.13% also tops the state by 15 points, and the school posted the largest single-year math improvement, jumping 11.37 percentage points. Central School is the most improved, rising from a 3-star to 4-star rating over two years, though it struggles with the highest chronic absenteeism rate (15.0%) in the area. Riverton Elementary School posts the best 3rd-grade English score (85.53%) and the lowest free/reduced lunch rate (29.03%). At the other end, Martin Luther King Junior Elementary School is a serious concern, ranking in the 1st percentile statewide with a 0-star rating and math proficiency as low as 1.61% in 5th grade. Chapman Elementary School offers the best student-teacher ratio (15.1:1) and lowest absenteeism (4.9%), but its academics remain below state averages despite the highest per-student spending ($12,811).
The Madison County schools consistently outperform Huntsville City schools in the same zip code, with the district ranking in the 76th percentile versus 45th for Huntsville City. Notably, higher spending does not guarantee better results—Chapman spends the most yet underperforms, while Mt Carmel spends less and excels. Central School also shows a troubling decline in math proficiency from 3rd grade (65.22%) to 8th grade (30.14%), suggesting challenges in sustaining gains through middle school. For parents, Mt Carmel and Central offer the strongest academics, but attendance and economic factors vary widely, making school choice a significant decision in this area.
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