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Very Good

#248 of 1,356 schools in AL

Top 18% in state

Forest Hills School

Elementary School · Florence City

101 Stovall Dr, Florence, AL 35633

Enrollment

827

Student-Teacher

15:1

Score

7.9

Grades

Pre-K – 4th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Florence

#2 of 13

public schools

Alabama elementary schools

#230 of 696

In district

#2 of 8

Florence City

School environment

9.4 / 10

Exceptional

About Forest Hills School

Forest Hills School serves 827 students in grades PK-4 as a standout elementary school in Florence, Alabama. With an impressive MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10 and ranking #50 out of 1,360 schools statewide, Forest Hills places in the 96th percentile among Alabama elementary schools. The school maintains a favorable 15:1 student-teacher ratio across its 55 full-time equivalent teaching staff, creating an environment where young learners can receive focused attention.

Academically, Forest Hills demonstrates strong performance with 69% of students achieving proficiency or above in English Language Arts and reading, while 59% reach proficiency in mathematics across grade levels. Forest Hills operates as a regular public school in Lauderdale County, drawing families from the surrounding 35633 ZIP code area where the median household income is $65,385 and median home value is $163,200. The community shows educational investment, with 26% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher, and maintains relative economic stability with a 9.3% poverty rate among its 20,720 residents.

The school sits on Stovall Drive in Florence, a small city setting that provides the benefits of community connection while maintaining access to educational resources and family amenities.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.5Above Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data4
Annual Change-1.01 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics9.2Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency59%
Reading/ELA Proficiency69%
Reading vs. State Avg-13.8 pts
Overall Proficiency64%
Expected (poverty-adj.)51%
vs. Expected+13.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile87th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment9.4Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,639

Forest Hills School — Students at Forest Hills School score 64% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 51%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

44.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores AL ACAP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 58.0%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 78.7%
School
State
86.9%

Based on 8 test records from AL state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
76%
ELA
70%
2021*
Math
39%
ELA
65%
2022
Math
59%
ELA
69%
2024
ELA
94.9%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.5/10.

How Forest Hills School Compares

See how Forest Hills School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.9/10
82th percentile in AL
Academic
9.2/10
9.2/10
Growth
6.5/10
Above average
Environment
9.4/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
45%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
55 teachers

Location

101 Stovall Dr, Florence, AL 35633

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Forest Hills School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. WA Threadgill Primary School (rated 9.6/10, 5.7 miles away, in nearby Sheffield), which scores notably higher. Another option is Webster Elementary School (rated 9.6/10, 7.0 miles away, in nearby Muscle Shoals), which scores notably higher. Additionally, McBride Elementary School (rated 8.3/10, 7.4 miles away, in nearby Muscle Shoals), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Florence, see our Florence schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 7.4 mi
School Distance Rating
MARS HILL BIBLE SCHOOL Florence 1.0 mi 5.4
Harlan Elementary School Florence 1.2 mi 7.4
Florence High School Florence 1.2 mi 4.5
Florence Freshman Center Florence 1.2 mi 3.8
SHOALS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Florence 1.1 mi 7.8
Underwood Elementary School Florence 2.0 mi 7.6
Hibbett School Florence 2.2 mi 6.9
Florence Middle School Florence 2.6 mi 5.9
Kilby Laboratory School Florence 2.9 mi 8.0
Weeden Elementary School Florence 2.8 mi 7.1
ST JOSEPH REGIONAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL Florence 3.1 mi 7.0
L E Willson Elementary School Sheffield 5.2 mi 7.9
Wilson High School Florence 5.4 mi 5.4
Wilson Elementary School Florence 5.4 mi 7.9
Sheffield Junior High School Sheffield 5.5 mi 4.8
Sheffield High School Sheffield 5.5 mi 5.4
WA Threadgill Primary School Sheffield 5.7 mi 9.6
Webster Elementary School Muscle Shoals 7.0 mi 9.6
McBride Elementary School Muscle Shoals 7.4 mi 8.3
Muscle Shoals Middle School Muscle Shoals 7.4 mi 6.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 35633 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$66,008

Median Home Value

$177,500

Median Rent

$792/mo

Population

20,733

College Educated

25%

Homeownership

81.6%

Avg Commute

25.9 min

Poverty Rate

10.7%

Median Age

46.6

Community Profile

The community surrounding Forest Hills School has a median household income of $66,008. It is an area where 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $177,500, with a median rent of $792/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.7%. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
BB Comer Memorial Elementary School Sylacauga, AL 7.9
Brent Elementary School Brent, AL 7.9
Brookwood Elementary School Brookwood, AL 7.9
GoldsmithSchiffman Elementary Big Cove, AL 7.9
Lincoln Elementary School Lincoln, AL 7.9
Mt Carmel Elementary School Huntsville, AL 7.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Forest Hills School

What grades does Forest Hills School serve?

Forest Hills School serves students in grades Pre-K through 4th.

How many students attend Forest Hills School?

Forest Hills School has an enrollment of approximately 827 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Forest Hills School?

The student-teacher ratio at Forest Hills School is 15:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Forest Hills School rank in AL?

Forest Hills School is ranked #248 out of 1,356 schools in AL.

What is Forest Hills School's MySchoolScout rating?

Forest Hills School has a composite rating of 7.9 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Forest Hills School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Forest Hills School has 58.0% math proficiency and 78.7% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Forest Hills School a charter school?

No, Forest Hills School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Forest Hills School a Title I school?

No, Forest Hills School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Forest Hills School?

44.6% of students at Forest Hills 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
14 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
22 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (2,651/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Florence). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 4th
Enrollment
827
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
Teachers (FTE)
55
Free/Reduced Lunch
44.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Lauderdale County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Florence City
District Enrollment
4,519
Schools in District
9
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,878
District Rank
#2 of 8

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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