Average
#638 of 1,356 schools in AL
Top 47% in state
Challenger Elementary School
Elementary School · Huntsville City · Huntsville, AL
A Huntsville City elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 5th.
13555 Chaney Thompson Rd, Huntsville, AL 35803
- Math 32% proficient (2022)
- Reading 84% vs AL 87% (2024)
- 17.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Challenger Elementary School score 58% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 57%).
2024 ACAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. AL average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 42 points since 2020, reaching 84% in 2024.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 62% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 67% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 30 test records from AL state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
44.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Challenger Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 6Car-Dependent
- Transit 0Minimal Transit
- Bike 56Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,879/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Huntsville), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$95,182
Median home value
$259,100
Median rent
$1,221/mo
College educated
54%
Homeownership
81.8%
Poverty rate
6.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 35803; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Montessori School of HuntsvillePrivate · tuition | 7.5private | PK–8 | 0.9 mi | 96 | Compare → |
| Mountain Gap Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.3 | PK–5 | 1.0 mi | 338 | Compare → |
| Farley Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.4 | PK–5 | 1.3 mi | 341 | Compare → |
| Academy for Science Foreign LanguageEnrollment path unverified | 8.4 | PK–5 | Not available | 303 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Huntsville City
- Schools in district
- 45
- Rank in district
- #21 of 43
- District spending per student
- $13,146NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 14.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Challenger Elementary School is listed in Huntsville City; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Challenger Elementary School
Challenger Elementary School is a public elementary school in Huntsville, AL, part of Huntsville City, serving approximately 499 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 17.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 out of 10 and ranks #638 of 1,356 schools in AL. State assessment records show 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 67% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Challenger Elementary School
What grades does Challenger Elementary School serve?
Challenger Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Challenger Elementary School?
Challenger Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 499 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Challenger Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Challenger Elementary School is 17.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Challenger Elementary School rank in AL?
Challenger Elementary School ranks #638 of 1,356 schools in AL.
What is Challenger Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Challenger Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Challenger Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Challenger Elementary School has 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 67% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Challenger Elementary School a charter school?
No, Challenger Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Challenger Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Challenger Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Challenger Elementary School?
44.5% of students at Challenger Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 499
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 28
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Madison County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 16.2%
- Phone
- (256) 428-7060
- Area population (ZIP 35803)
- 29,283
- Area average commute
- 21.6 min
- Area median age
- 44.5
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 ACAP · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 35803; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022, multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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