The top reported proficiency rate is 46% in English language arts. The lowest is 8% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Union Springs Elementary School
Union Springs Elementary School serves students from Pre-K through fourth grade in the Bullock County school district, the sole public school system in the county. Enrollment is relatively large for an elementary school serving only those early grades. The student body is predominantly Black, with a substantial Hispanic minority and a very small number of white students. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which places the school in a high-poverty context.
Academically, the state’s testing data for the most recent school year, the only year available here, shows a mixed picture. In English language arts, about half of third graders met the state’s proficiency benchmark, but that share dropped for fourth graders. In math, proficiency rates were lower for both grades, and in fourth-grade science, the share of students meeting the bar was quite small. Because this is a single year of data, there is no trend to compare against. A parent may want to ask the school what specific supports are in place for students who are not yet at grade level, particularly in math and science.
The school does not serve grades that have a graduation rate, so none is reported. Data on discipline, chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, and special education or English learner populations are not available in the source material, which limits a full picture of school climate and support structures. A parent considering the school may wish to inquire directly about class size, teacher stability, and how the school serves students with disabilities or those learning English.
Union Springs itself is a small, historic county seat in rural Alabama. The town’s economy is tied to agriculture, with Bonnie Plants, a major plant wholesaler, as a large employer. The downtown area, centered on the Bullock County Courthouse, contains a historic district with numerous buildings on the National Register. The town has experienced population decline in recent decades, and its trajectory is more about preservation and maintaining its agricultural base than rapid growth. Housing values in the area are well below national and state medians, and typical monthly housing costs are low relative to income, which may make the area accessible for families.
Because the Bullock County district has only one elementary school for these grades, there is no within-district peer comparison to draw on. The school is the only option for public elementary education in the district. A parent choosing this school is selecting the sole public pathway through early elementary in this community. The private Conecuh Springs Christian School provides a K-12 alternative in town, which a family might consider depending on their priorities.
Overall, Union Springs Elementary serves a high-poverty student population in a small, rural, historically rooted town. State proficiency results are strongest in third-grade English language arts, weaker in math, and lowest in fourth-grade science. The lack of multi-year data and missing indicators for attendance, discipline, and special programs leaves gaps that a family should explore directly with the school to understand the full experience.
See more original research from School Decision →