Excellent
#20 of 1,356 schools in AL
Top 1% in state
Shades Mountain Elementary School
Elementary School · Hoover City
2250 Sumpter St, Hoover, AL 35226
Enrollment
313
Student-Teacher
13.6:1
Score
9.2
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
313
Student-Teacher
13.6:1
Score
9.2
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Hoover
#4 of 16
public schools
Alabama elementary schools
#20 of 696
In district
#4 of 16
Hoover City
School environment
9.8 / 10
Exceptional
About Shades Mountain Elementary School
Shades Mountain Elementary School serves 313 students in Hoover, Alabama, from pre-K through fifth grade. It earns a composite score of 9.2 out of 10 — Exceptional — driven by a 9.5 academic score and an 8.8 growth score. Both figures reflect consistent, high-level performance rather than strength in one area at the expense of another.
The school ranks 20th out of 1,356 public schools in Alabama and 20th among 696 elementary schools statewide, outperforming 99% of its peers across the state. Inside Hoover, it holds 4th place out of 16 public schools. A student-teacher ratio of 13.6:1 supports smaller class sizes, giving teachers more contact time per student than most public schools can offer.
Academic scores above 9.0 are meaningful on their own. Growth scores above 9.0 are meaningful on their own. Hitting both simultaneously is uncommon — many schools post strong test results while growth plateaus, or show fast improvement from a weak baseline.
Shades Mountain does neither. For families comparing elementary options in the greater Hoover area, the combined academic and growth record makes this a school worth examining closely.
Score Breakdown
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Shades Mountain Elementary School — Students at Shades Mountain Elementary School score 70% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 50%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
45.7%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores AL ACAP (2023-24)
Based on 8 test records from AL state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↑ ImprovingAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 8.8/10.
How Shades Mountain Elementary School Compares
See how Shades Mountain Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 67% (2019) to 62% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 62% (2019) to 77% (2022).
Location
2250 Sumpter St, Hoover, AL 35226
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Shades Mountain Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Green Valley Elementary School (rated 9.4/10, 2.3 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Gwin Elementary School (rated 9.4/10, 2.7 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Bluff Park Elementary School (rated 9.1/10, 2.1 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Hoover, see our Hoover schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.9 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Pizitz Middle School Vestavia | 0.9 mi | 8.8 |
| JOHN CARROLL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Birmingham | 1.3 mi | 7.2 |
| ST MARK UNITED METHODIST KINDERGARTEN Birmingham | 1.2 mi | — |
| Vestavia Hills High School Freshman Campus Vestavia Hills | 1.8 mi | 6.9 |
| Hall Kent Elementary School Homewood | 2.1 mi | 8.4 |
| Bluff Park Elementary School Hoover | 2.1 mi | 9.1 |
| Green Valley Elementary School Hoover | 2.3 mi | 9.4 |
| ASCENSION EPISCOPAL KINDERGARTEN Vestavia | 2.1 mi | — |
| Vestavia Hills Elementary West Vestavia | 2.0 mi | 8.4 |
| Gwin Elementary School Hoover | 2.7 mi | 9.4 |
| GREEN VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH Hoover | 2.7 mi | — |
| Ira F Simmons Middle School Hoover | 2.7 mi | 7.5 |
| Vestavia Hills Elementary East Vestavia | 2.7 mi | 7.9 |
| Magic City Acceptance Academy Birmingham | 3.1 mi | 8.0 |
| Vestavia Hills High School Vestavia | 2.6 mi | 7.7 |
| Edgewood Elementary School Homewood | 3.2 mi | 8.6 |
| Homewood High School Homewood | 3.1 mi | 8.8 |
| HOOVER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Hoover | 3.1 mi | 7.4 |
| SPRING VALLEY SCHOOL Birmingham | 2.8 mi | 8.0 |
| Oxmoor K5 Birmingham | 2.9 mi | 6.4 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 35226 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$126,053
Median Home Value
$387,100
Median Rent
$1,467/mo
Population
37,693
College Educated
68.9%
Homeownership
82.9%
Avg Commute
24.4 min
Poverty Rate
5.7%
Median Age
37
Community Profile
The community surrounding Shades Mountain Elementary School has a median household income of $126,053. It is a well-educated community where 69% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $387,100, with a median rent of $1,467/month. The local poverty rate of 5.7% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 24 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 |
|---|---|
| Double Springs Elementary School Double Springs, AL | 9.2 |
| Jeter Primary School Opelika, AL | 9.2 |
| Woodstock Elementary School Woodstock, AL | 9.2 |
| AH Watwood Elementary School Childersburg, AL | 9.1 |
| Eura Brown Elementary School Gadsden, AL | 9.1 |
| Good Hope Primary School Cullman, AL | 9.1 |
Compare Shades Mountain Elementary School with similar schools nearby
Side-by-side ratings, test scores, and demographics for the schools parents most often weigh against this one.
- CompareShades Mountain Elementary School vs Riverchase Elementary SchoolHoover, AL Peer score 9.2/10 About even with Shades Mountain Elementary School
- CompareShades Mountain Elementary School vs Green Valley Elementary SchoolHoover, AL Peer score 9.4/10 +0.2 vs Shades Mountain Elementary School
- CompareShades Mountain Elementary School vs Gwin Elementary SchoolHoover, AL Peer score 9.4/10 +0.2 vs Shades Mountain Elementary School
- CompareShades Mountain Elementary School vs Bluff Park Elementary SchoolHoover, AL Peer score 9.1/10 -0.1 vs Shades Mountain Elementary School
- CompareShades Mountain Elementary School vs Rocky Ridge Elementary SchoolHoover, AL Peer score 9.1/10 -0.1 vs Shades Mountain Elementary School
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Shades Mountain Elementary School
What grades does Shades Mountain Elementary School serve?
Shades Mountain Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Shades Mountain Elementary School?
Shades Mountain Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 313 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Shades Mountain Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Shades Mountain Elementary School is 13.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Shades Mountain Elementary School rank in AL?
Shades Mountain Elementary School is ranked #20 out of 1,356 schools in AL.
What is Shades Mountain Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Shades Mountain Elementary School has a composite rating of 9.2 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 Shades Mountain Elementary School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Shades Mountain Elementary School has 58.7% math proficiency and 76.8% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Shades Mountain Elementary School a charter school?
No, Shades Mountain Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Shades Mountain Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Shades Mountain Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Shades Mountain Elementary School?
45.7% of students at Shades Mountain 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Hoover). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 313
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 23
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 45.7%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Jefferson County
- Phone
- (205) 439-3100
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Hoover City- District Enrollment
- 13,524
- Schools in District
- 18
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $14,273
- District Rank
- #4 of 16
Compare This School
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 methodologyRelated reading
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