Excellent
#90 of 1,356 schools in AL
Top 7% in state
Shades Cahaba Elementary School
Elementary School · Homewood City · Homewood, AL
A Homewood City elementary school where students score 10 points above what's typical for similar communities.
3001 Independence Dr, Homewood, AL 35209
- Math 57% proficient (2022)
- Reading 98% vs AL 87% (2024)
- 15:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Shades Cahaba Elementary School score 78% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 68%).
2024 ACAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. AL average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 39 points since 2020, reaching 98% in 2024.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 76% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 80% (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
25.1%
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 Shades Cahaba 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 89Very Walkable
- Bike 54Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,109/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Homewood), 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
$72,383
Median home value
$465,600
Median rent
$1,246/mo
College educated
54.4%
Homeownership
50%
Poverty rate
17%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 35209; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creative Montessori SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.4private | PK–8 | 0.6 mi | 126 | Compare → |
| Our Lady of SorrowsPrivate · tuition | 6.0private | PK–8 | 0.6 mi | 336 | Compare → |
| Islamic Academy of AlabamaPrivate · tuition | 8.2private | PK–12 | 0.7 mi | 183 | Compare → |
| Jefferson County Virtual SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.9 | K–12 | 0.8 mi | 227 | 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.
Homewood City
- Schools in district
- 5
- Rank in district
- #3 of 5
- District spending per student
- $14,899NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 5.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Shades Cahaba Elementary School is listed in Homewood City; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Shades Cahaba Elementary School
Shades Cahaba Elementary School is a public elementary school in Homewood, AL, part of Homewood City, serving approximately 510 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 15:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 out of 10 and ranks #90 of 1,356 schools in AL. State assessment records show 76% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 80% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Shades Cahaba Elementary School
What grades does Shades Cahaba Elementary School serve?
Shades Cahaba Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Shades Cahaba Elementary School?
Shades Cahaba Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 510 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Shades Cahaba Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Shades Cahaba Elementary 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 Shades Cahaba Elementary School rank in AL?
Shades Cahaba Elementary School ranks #90 of 1,356 schools in AL.
What is Shades Cahaba Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Shades Cahaba Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 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 Shades Cahaba Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Shades Cahaba Elementary School has 76% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 80% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Shades Cahaba Elementary School a charter school?
No, Shades Cahaba Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Shades Cahaba Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Shades Cahaba Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Shades Cahaba Elementary School?
25.1% of students at Shades Cahaba 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
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 510
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 34
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Jefferson County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 6.9%
- Phone
- (205) 871-1113
- Area population (ZIP 35209)
- 33,476
- Area average commute
- 17.6 min
- Area median age
- 33.6
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 35209; 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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