The top reported proficiency rate is 52% in English language arts. The lowest is 10% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Swift Elementary School
Swift Elementary School sits at the edge of a quiet coastal community on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, serving just over one hundred students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. The school is part of the Baldwin County system, but it operates as a small, standalone elementary rather than a neighborhood school in a dense residential area. The unincorporated village of Bon Secour is a waterfront place built around the seafood industry—Gulf oysters and shrimp—rather than tourism, and the school reflects that modest, working-coast character.
The student body is predominantly white, with a notable share of Hispanic students, and smaller groups of Black and multiracial children. The share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals is very high, a direct reflection of the economic reality in a community where fishing and seafood processing anchor employment. The school’s enrollment is small enough that most grades have around twenty students, and the building likely functions as a close-knit environment where staff know every child.
Academically, the picture is mixed and, in several areas, concerning. On the state’s 2024-25 assessments, reading and English language arts performance was the school’s relative strength, with proficiency across the tested grades sitting near the midpoint of a national comparison base. However, results varied sharply by grade: sixth-grade reading proficiency was solid, while fourth-grade reading was notably lower. Mathematics performance was weaker. Proficiency rates fell off markedly as grade level rose, with third grade showing a moderate share of students meeting the bar and sixth grade showing a very low share. Science results, available only for fourth grade, were also very low.
When placed next to other school districts in Baldwin County, Swift Elementary’s overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades lands in the bottom group. There are only three districts in the county, so this means the school’s aggregate academic attainment is the lowest among that small set. A parent considering the school should look into this further with the school: ask about the math curriculum, instructional supports, and how the school is working to raise performance, especially in the upper elementary grades where the numbers drop.
Because the school ends at sixth grade, there is no high school graduation rate to report. The school serves only elementary and middle grades, so that metric simply does not apply. Similarly, data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, English learner services, and special education percentages were not available in the provided records. The absence of these figures makes it harder to fully evaluate the learning environment and student support needs, though the high poverty rate suggests that some students likely face economic barriers that can affect school attendance and readiness.
Bon Secour itself is a very small, unincorporated community spread along the Bon Secour River and Bay. There is no downtown or walkable commercial district. Schools for older students are in the nearby town of Foley, meaning families with children at Swift will eventually move to a different campus for middle and high school. The community’s anchor is the seafood industry, with one of the oldest Gulf seafood companies operating locally. The recent National Wildlife Refuge nearby provides a natural amenity. Housing values are modest relative to state and national medians, and home prices have edged down slightly over the past year, which might be relevant for families considering a move. The area is part of a broader metropolitan region that is growing, but within Bon Secour itself, new development is not heavily documented.
No recent changes to the Baldwin County district were found in the available research, so there are no major policy shifts or boundary adjustments to report.
For a family, Swift Elementary offers a very small, tight-knit school in a low-key coastal setting with a strong economic challenge. Academically, the school shows a clear weakness in math and science, while reading is more uneven. A parent considering this school should expect to be proactive—asking about math intervention, tutoring, and how the school supports students who are behind. The high poverty rate and the small size mean that resources may be stretched, but also that individual attention may be easier to come by. This is not a school with broad advanced programming or a robust set of electives; it is a basic elementary serving a community that has historically relied on fishing, not on professional or white-collar employment. Families who value small scale and a quiet, unpretentious community may find it a good fit, but those prioritizing strong academic outcomes, especially in math and science, would want to investigate what the school is doing to address the current gaps.
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