Newton Elementary School vs Wicksburg Elementary School

Newton Elementary School and Wicksburg Elementary School sit 7.6 miles apart and serve the same PK–06 grade band, yet both rank among Alabama's elite elementary schools. Newton Elementary School holds the edge at 9.3/10 versus Wicksburg Elementary School's 9.2/10 — a difference of 0.1 points — and claims the higher state rank at #26 of 1,356 Alabama schools compared to Wicksburg Elementary School at #41. Both finishes place these schools well inside the top 5% statewide, giving families in the Newton area two genuinely strong options within a short drive.

On academics, Newton Elementary School scores 9.5/10 against Wicksburg Elementary School's 9.3/10 — a 0.2-point gap that reflects slightly stronger tested proficiency at Newton. The growth story runs the other direction: Wicksburg Elementary School earns a perfect 10.0/10 growth score while Newton Elementary School posts a 9.6/10, meaning students at Wicksburg Elementary School are gaining ground academically at a measurably faster rate year over year regardless of where they start. Families weighing current achievement against trajectory will find the two schools pulling in opposite directions on these two dimensions.

The enrollment difference between the two schools is substantial. Newton Elementary School serves 282 students; Wicksburg Elementary School enrolls 619 — more than twice the headcount. That size gap shows up directly in the student-teacher ratio: Newton Elementary School runs 14.1 students per teacher versus Wicksburg Elementary School's 18.2:1, giving Newton families significantly more individual classroom access. On the socioeconomic spectrum, Newton Elementary School's free and reduced-price lunch rate is 73% compared to 42% at Wicksburg Elementary School, indicating Newton serves a considerably higher share of economically disadvantaged students while still outranking the vast majority of Alabama elementary schools.

Both schools cover identical grade bands from pre-K through sixth grade, so grade-level fit is not a differentiating factor for most families. The meaningful structural distinctions come down to school size and classroom density — Newton Elementary School's smaller campus and lower student-teacher ratio create a more intimate learning environment — versus Wicksburg Elementary School's exceptional growth trajectory and more diverse socioeconomic mix that may reflect a broader neighborhood draw.