Excellent
#85 of 1,356 schools in AL
Top 6% in state
Walter Jackson Elementary School
Elementary School · Decatur City · Decatur, AL
A Decatur City elementary school where students score 32 points above what's typical for similar communities.
1950 Park St SE, Decatur, AL 35601
- Math 62% proficient (2022)
- Reading 87% vs AL 87% (2024)
- 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Walter Jackson Elementary School score 74% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).
2024 ACAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. AL average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 32 points since 2020, reaching 87% in 2024.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 72% (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
71.2%
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 Walter Jackson 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 12Car-Dependent
- Bike 44Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,107/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Decatur), 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
$50,216
Median home value
$148,100
Median rent
$860/mo
College educated
18.3%
Homeownership
57.9%
Poverty rate
17.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 35601; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Park Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.9 | PK–5 | 0.8 mi | 517 | Compare → |
| Eastwood Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 9.1 | PK–5 | 1.0 mi | 270 | Compare → |
| Bankscaddell Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.4 | PK–5 | 1.9 mi | 447 | Compare → |
| Austinville Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.8 | PK–5 | 2.0 mi | 418 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Decatur City
- Schools in district
- 20
- Rank in district
- #4 of 18
- District spending per student
- $14,832NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 18.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
Walter Jackson Elementary School is listed in Decatur City; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Walter Jackson Elementary School
Walter Jackson Elementary School is a public elementary school in Decatur, AL, part of Decatur City, serving approximately 240 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 out of 10 and ranks #85 of 1,356 schools in AL. State assessment records show 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 67% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Walter Jackson Elementary School
What grades does Walter Jackson Elementary School serve?
Walter Jackson Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Walter Jackson Elementary School?
Walter Jackson Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 240 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Walter Jackson Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Walter Jackson Elementary School is 17.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Walter Jackson Elementary School rank in AL?
Walter Jackson Elementary School ranks #85 of 1,356 schools in AL.
What is Walter Jackson Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Walter Jackson 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 Walter Jackson Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Walter Jackson Elementary School has 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 67% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Walter Jackson Elementary School a charter school?
No, Walter Jackson Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Walter Jackson Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Walter Jackson Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Walter Jackson Elementary School?
71.2% of students at Walter Jackson 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
- 240
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 14
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Morgan County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 13.3%
- Phone
- (256) 552-3031
- Area population (ZIP 35601)
- 36,008
- Area average commute
- 20.1 min
- Area median age
- 37
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 35601; 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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