The top reported proficiency rate is 60% in English language arts. The lowest is 33% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Chestnut Grove Elementary School
Chestnut Grove Elementary School is a regular public school in Decatur, Alabama, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of the Decatur City school system. The school sits in a residential area southwest of Decatur’s downtown, on a campus that draws from the surrounding neighborhoods. It is one of several elementary options within the district, and for families living in its attendance zone it represents the first step in a child’s public education.
Academic performance at Chestnut Grove, measured by the state’s ACAP assessments for the 2024-25 school year, shows a mixed picture that is stronger in English language arts than in math or science. Across grades three through five, a majority of students met proficiency benchmarks in reading and writing, with the highest share in fifth grade. In math, however, the school saw a much smaller share of students reach proficiency, and performance declined sharply between fourth and fifth grade. Science, tested only in fourth grade, also lagged behind ELA. These are single-year results, with no prior data available for comparison, so it is not possible to say whether performance is improving or declining. When placed alongside other elementary schools in the county, Chestnut Grove’s overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint of the three districts in Morgan County.
The school’s student body is diverse. White students make up the largest single group, followed by Black students and Hispanic students, with smaller shares of Asian, multiracial, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. A substantial majority of students come from households that qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of economic need that families may want to understand when considering the school’s resources and support systems. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, which limits a full picture of the kinds of special programming or staffing the school provides.
Chestnut Grove is an elementary school only, so there is no graduation rate or course-access data to report. The school does not have charter or magnet status, and its Title I status was not listed in the available data. No information on discipline, attendance, or staffing was found, so parents looking into those areas would need to reach out to the school directly.
The community Decatur sits on the Tennessee River in north Alabama, shaped by manufacturing, cargo transit, and high-tech industry. Major employers include United Launch Alliance, General Electric, and 3M. The city has experienced modest, steady population growth in recent years; it is the second-largest city in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. The area is car-dependent, with a spread-out built environment and commute times that point to a driving-centric pattern. Housing values in the school’s ZIP code have risen modestly over the past year and sit above the state average but below the national median. Rents have eased slightly. By national standards, owning a home here is less expensive than in many parts of the country, though affordability still depends on household income.
No district-level changes or strategic initiatives were identified in a search of recent public reporting, so the Decatur City system appears to be operating without major disruptions or announced shifts in programming.
For a parent considering Chestnut Grove, the school offers a diverse, economically mixed student body and an academic environment where reading proficiency is a relative strength and math and science are areas where results are lower. The single year of testing data means there is no trend to observe, and the lack of information on special-population supports, discipline, and attendance leaves gaps that only the school can fill. A family weighing this school would likely want to visit, ask about math instruction in the upper elementary grades, and inquire about how the school supports students from low-income backgrounds and those who need extra help.
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