The top reported proficiency rate is 37% in English language arts. The lowest is 18% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Tuggle Elementary School
Tuggle Elementary School serves students in prekindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school within Birmingham City Schools, the local district. The school is located in the northern part of Birmingham, a mid-sized city that functions as a major regional economic, medical, and educational hub. Birmingham has a diverse economy spanning banking, healthcare, higher education, and manufacturing. The city’s population has been gradually declining, with Huntsville recently overtaking it as Alabama’s largest city, though the Birmingham metropolitan area remains the largest in the state.
Tuggle’s enrollment reflects the neighborhood it serves. The student body is predominantly Black, with a substantial Hispanic share and very small numbers of white students and students of two or more races. A large portion of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic need. The school reported no data on students with disabilities or English learners, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those populations and the supports available.
State testing results from the 2024-25 school year are available for math, English language arts, and science. In math, proficiency rates by grade level were low. English language arts proficiency rates were somewhat higher than math but still low. In fourth-grade science, the proficiency rate was also low. Looking across all tested subjects and grades, Tuggle’s overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint relative to other districts in Jefferson County, though the range among districts is wide. The school’s scores are below the median for the county, and a parent may want to discuss with the school how it supports students who are not yet meeting grade-level benchmarks. Because only one year of test data was available, no trend can be assessed.
The Birmingham City School district has been going through notable changes that affect Tuggle. The district approved a consolidation plan in 2023 as part of a strategic facility plan, addressing declining enrollment and aging infrastructure. This plan includes merging several schools and repurposing buildings, with phased improvements through 2027, directly affecting which schools children attend and the condition of facilities. The district also opened a new Career Tech Academy in 2023, expanding career pathway programs for high school students in healthcare, IT, and advanced manufacturing, though this is more relevant for the district’s middle and high schools than for Tuggle as an elementary school. Additionally, the Alabama Literacy Act’s third-grade retention provision took effect in the 2023-24 school year, requiring third graders who do not meet reading proficiency standards to be retained. Given that a substantial share of Tuggle’s third graders tested below proficient in reading, this state mandate is directly relevant to families at this school, and the district has been implementing reading coaches and new literacy intervention programs aligned to the science of reading.
Tuggle does not serve high school grades, so no graduation rate is reported. No data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing, or course access was available. A parent may want to inquire about class sizes, teacher experience and retention, and the school’s approach to supporting student attendance and engagement.
Housing in the area around Tuggle is more affordable than in much of the state and nation, with moderate home values and rents. The Birmingham area’s zillow home value index and typical rent are below state and national benchmarks, making it a lower-cost place to live relative to many other parts of the country.
In short, Tuggle Elementary is a school serving a high-poverty community where state test scores indicate that many students are below grade-level expectations. The school operates within a district navigating consolidation and literacy policy changes. A parent considering this school should look into the specific academic support programs in place, the school’s approach to the literacy retention requirement, and the current state of facilities and staffing.
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