Deer Valley Elementary School vs Shades Mountain Elementary School
Deer Valley Elementary School and Shades Mountain Elementary School are very closely rated, both scoring around 9.4 out of 10. Deer Valley Elementary School is significantly larger with 749 students, about 2.4× the size of Shades Mountain Elementary School (313). In math proficiency, Deer Valley Elementary School leads at 91.0%.
Deer Valley Elementary School
Hoover, AL
749 students
Shades Mountain Elementary School
Hoover, AL
313 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Deer Valley Elementary School | Shades Mountain Elementary School |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.4 / 10 | 9.4 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.2 | 9.4 |
| Growth Score | 9.5 | 9.2 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 18.3% | 45.7% |
| Environment Score | 9.7 | 9.7 |
| State Rank | #27 of 1,356 | #28 of 1,356 |
| State Percentile | 98th | 98th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Deer Valley Elementary School | Shades Mountain Elementary School |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 91.0% | 82.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 93.0% | 97.5% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Deer Valley Elementary School | Shades Mountain Elementary School |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Pre-K – 5th | Pre-K – 5th |
| Enrollment | 749 | 313 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 15.3:1 | 13.6:1 |
| Per-Pupil Spending | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 18.3% | 45.7% |
| Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23) | 6.3% | 14.7% |
| District | Hoover City | Hoover City |
| City | Hoover | Hoover |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Hoover (35226) | Hoover (35226) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $126,053 | $126,053 |
| Median Home Value | $387,100 | $387,100 |
| Median Rent | $1,467 | $1,467 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 68.9% | 68.9% |
| Poverty Rate | 5.7% | 5.7% |
| Avg Commute | 24 min | 24 min |
The data story: Deer Valley Elementary School vs Shades Mountain Elementary School
Shades Mountain Elementary School holds a 0.3-point overall edge over Deer Valley Elementary School — 9.2/10 versus 9.2/10 overall feels close, but the state rank gap tells a sharper story: Shades Mountain Elementary School sits at #33 of 1,356 schools statewide, while Deer Valley Elementary School ranks #66 of 1,356. Both land in Alabama's top 5%, yet the 33-slot gap between two schools five miles apart is meaningful when you're choosing between them.
On academics, Shades Mountain Elementary School scores 9.5/10 against Deer Valley Elementary School's 9.2/10 — a 0.3-point delta that mirrors the overall gap. Growth follows the same pattern: Shades Mountain Elementary School posts 8.8/10 versus Deer Valley Elementary School's 8.5/10, suggesting students at Shades Mountain are outpacing peers by a consistent margin across both attainment and trajectory measures. Neither school is weak here; Deer Valley's scores would top most district comparisons — but Shades Mountain has the edge on every academic dimension tracked.
The demographic picture separates these two schools more sharply than test scores do. Deer Valley Elementary School enrolls 749 students at a 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio; Shades Mountain Elementary School serves 313 students at 13.6:1 — nearly two fewer students per teacher on average. The free and reduced lunch rates diverge significantly: 18% at Deer Valley Elementary School versus 46% at Shades Mountain Elementary School. That gap signals that Shades Mountain serves a substantially more economically diverse population, which makes its higher academic and growth scores even more notable in context.
Both schools cover the same grade span — PK through 5 — so families with children across elementary years face no structural difference there. The size contrast is the operational divide: Deer Valley Elementary School at 749 students functions as a larger community campus, while Shades Mountain Elementary School at 313 students offers a notably more intimate setting. Families who prioritize smaller class sizes and closer teacher-student contact will find Shades Mountain's 13.6:1 ratio and compact enrollment a concrete structural advantage.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Deer Valley Elementary School
Deer Valley Elementary School suits families who want a larger, more resource-rich campus environment and whose children thrive with broader peer networks. At 749 students with an 18% FRL rate, it draws from a relatively affluent, stable enrollment base — a fit for parents who prioritize community scale and consistent academic performance in the state's top 5%.
Shades Mountain Elementary School
Shades Mountain Elementary School suits families who prioritize smaller class sizes and higher academic ceilings. Its 13.6:1 ratio, #33 statewide rank, and 9.5/10 academic score deliver measurably more per student — and its 46% FRL population means those results come in a more economically diverse setting, which matters to families who value that exposure alongside academic rigor.