Eastwood Elementary School vs Julian Harris Elementary School

Julian Harris Elementary School outranks Eastwood Elementary School by a wide margin in Alabama's statewide standings — Julian Harris sits at #16 of 1,356 Alabama schools while Eastwood ranks #104 of 1,356. That gap translates to an overall rating difference of 0.7 points, with Julian Harris scoring 9.4/10 against Eastwood's 8.7/10. For parents who weight a school's position relative to every other school in the state, Julian Harris holds a commanding advantage just 5.1 miles away.

The academic picture is more nuanced. Eastwood Elementary School holds a higher academic score — 9.2/10 versus Julian Harris's 8.7/10 — suggesting stronger current proficiency levels. Julian Harris counters with a growth score of 9.7/10 compared to Eastwood's 8.1/10, a 1.6-point gap that reflects how much academic progress students are making year over year. Families who prioritize trajectory over absolute achievement levels will find Julian Harris's growth numbers compelling; families focused on where students currently perform will note Eastwood's academic edge.

Julian Harris Elementary School enrolls 348 students versus Eastwood's 270, but carries a slightly lower student-teacher ratio — 15.1:1 compared to Eastwood's 15.9:1 — meaning slightly more individual attention per child despite the larger campus. The most striking demographic difference is free and reduced lunch eligibility: 67% at Julian Harris against 43% at Eastwood. Julian Harris is serving a substantially higher-need population while simultaneously posting a top-16 statewide ranking, which makes its growth score even more notable in context. Both schools serve grades PK through 5.

Both schools cover the same grade span, PK–05, so neither offers an accelerated entry point or an extended elementary program the other lacks. The meaningful program-level distinction lies in what the data implies about instructional culture: Eastwood's academic score suggests consistent, high-level output, while Julian Harris's growth score suggests an environment that accelerates students from wherever they start. Neither school shows a staffing-ratio disadvantage significant enough to be a deciding factor on its own.