The top reported proficiency rate is 39% in English language arts. The lowest is 29% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Bob Hardingshawmut Elementary
Bob Harding-Shawmut Elementary is an early-grades-only public school serving children from pre-kindergarten through second grade in the city of Valley, Alabama, as part of the Chambers County School District. Because the school stops at second grade, state testing data is only available for the years when those students eventually took assessments in third, fourth, and fifth grade. A parent considering this school should understand that the test results come from former students who have moved on to other elementary buildings, and the proficiency picture is mixed.
On the 2016-17 state assessments, which are the most recent figures available for this analysis, the school’s former students scored in a range that included a softened spot in fifth-grade English language arts and science, where proficiency rates were lower than in other tested grades. Fourth-grade math proficiency was also around the lower end of the range. On a brighter note, third-grade English language arts and fourth-grade English language arts both showed proficiency rates that were stronger, suggesting that early literacy instruction at Harding-Shawmut may lay a solid foundation for some students. Science proficiency in fifth grade was also on the lower side. When compared on a proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades, Harding-Shawmut’s overall results sit in the top quarter of Chambers County’s elementary schools. That county-level ranking includes only two districts, so the set is a small one.
The school enrolls a student body that is roughly evenly split between white students and Black students, with a sizeable Hispanic population. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school does not report counts for students with individualized education programs or English learners in the available data, so a parent with a child who receives special education services or language support should ask the school directly about those resources.
Valley itself is a city shaped by its textile-mill past and its recent industrial growth. Originally formed from four mill villages, it retains older historic districts alongside new subdivisions and industrial parks. The arrival of a major auto plant in nearby Georgia and the opening of a large food-processing facility have driven rapid development, and the city population grew by a notable portion in the last decade. This growth means new housing is being built, including a smart-home subdivision, and the local economy is anchored by manufacturing and distribution employers. The area is car-dependent; there is no public transit, and daily errands require a drive. Recreational options include a community center, sports complexes, and a walking trail built on an old railway bed.
The school itself is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. Because it serves only the youngest grades, it does not have a graduation rate. The district has not recently announced major curriculum changes or referendums that would shift the educational approach, so parents can expect the program to follow the standard Chambers County elementary curriculum. For families weighing where to enroll, Harding-Shawmut functions as a foundation school: students spend their first years here and then move on to another elementary school in the district for the upper grades. The test results from later grades suggest that the early foundation, particularly in literacy, may be a relative strength, while math and science achievement in the upper elementary years is more inconsistent. A parent may want to ask the school about how its pre-K through second grade program prepares children for the transition to third grade and beyond.
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