Eastwood Elementary School vs Julian Harris Elementary School
Eastwood Elementary School has a higher overall rating of 9.1/10 compared to 8.4/10. In math proficiency, Julian Harris Elementary School leads at 89.0%.
Eastwood Elementary School
Decatur, AL
270 students
Julian Harris Elementary School
Decatur, AL
348 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Eastwood Elementary School | Julian Harris Elementary School |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.1 / 10 | 8.4 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.2 | 9.1 |
| Growth Score | 8.8 | 7.6 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 43.3% | 67.2% |
| Environment Score | 9.5 | 9.5 |
| State Rank | #84 of 1,356 | #221 of 1,356 |
| State Percentile | 94th | 84th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Eastwood Elementary School | Julian Harris Elementary School |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 87.0% | 89.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 92.0% | 90.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
Neighborhood
| Metric | Decatur (35601) | Decatur (35603) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $50,216 | $78,237 |
| Median Home Value | $148,100 | $235,600 |
| Median Rent | $860 | $857 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 18.3% | 29.2% |
| Poverty Rate | 17.1% | 7.4% |
| Avg Commute | 20 min | 23 min |
The data story: 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.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Eastwood Elementary School
Eastwood Elementary School suits families whose children are already performing at or near grade level and whose primary concern is sustained academic achievement alongside peers at similar starting points. With a 9.2/10 academic score and a 43% free and reduced lunch rate, Eastwood offers a high-proficiency environment that may better match families seeking consistent, benchmark-driven instruction in a mid-sized campus of 270 students.
Julian Harris Elementary School
Julian Harris Elementary School is the stronger fit for families who prioritize a school's ability to accelerate student growth regardless of entry point — its 9.7/10 growth score and #16 statewide ranking signal an instructional environment that outperforms expectations given its 67% free and reduced lunch population. Families moving into Decatur from varied academic backgrounds, or those whose children need to close gaps quickly, will find the data here more favorable.