Kilby Laboratory School, Florence AL

Original Research by School Decision on Kilby Laboratory School

Kilby Laboratory School is a public elementary school in Florence, Alabama, serving children from prekindergarten through sixth grade. It is operated by the University of North Alabama and sits on or near the university campus, integrated into the city fabric. The school is the only university-operated elementary school in the state, a distinction that shapes its identity and purpose. As a laboratory school, it functions as a training site for education students and a setting for research and demonstration, which gives it a character distinct from standard district-run elementary schools.

Academically, the school posts results that place it well above its immediate peers. On the state’s assessments, student proficiency in English language arts reaches very high levels across the tested grades, with third grade showing universal proficiency and upper grades remaining comfortably above typical expectations. Math proficiency is also strong, though it varies by grade, with the highest levels in third and fifth grades and a modest dip in sixth grade that a parent may want to look into further with the school. Science results, available for fourth grade, are similarly strong. The school’s overall proficiency index is the highest among the two districts that make up Lauderdale County, meaning it notably leads the small local field.

The student body is small, with enrollment that keeps class sizes manageable. The demographic composition is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Black, Asian, Hispanic, and multiracial students. Economic disadvantage, measured by free and reduced-price lunch eligibility, is low relative to many public schools. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not reported, so a reader should ask the school directly about special education and language support services.

Because Kilby serves only elementary and middle grades, there is no graduation rate to report. Other typical high school measures, such as AP course access or college readiness, do not apply. The school environment and discipline data were also not available in the source material, so families may want to inquire about climate and student support structures during a visit.

The setting is Florence, the largest city in northwestern Alabama’s Shoals region. Florence has a historic downtown anchored by Wilson Park, which hosts the Alabama Renaissance Faire and performances tied to the W.C. Handy Music Festival. The University of North Alabama, the oldest public college in the state, is woven into the city’s core. The economy blends manufacturing, food processing, agriculture, and a growing cultural tourism sector. The city describes itself as experiencing steady economic growth and business expansion while preserving historic character. The school sits within this university-connected corridor, and its affiliation means that students have proximity to a college campus environment long before high school.

For a parent considering Kilby Laboratory School, the profile is one of high academic performance in a small, intentionally designed setting with a clear university partnership. The student peer group is economically less diverse than many area schools, and the racial composition reflects the broader community. The school’s lab status may mean admission is tied to the university’s enrollment or a separate application process; the data did not specify admission criteria, so families should confirm eligibility directly. Overall, this is a school that delivers strong foundational results in reading and math through elementary and early middle school, set within a city that offers a mix of small-town feel, university life, and cultural amenities.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 379%

School 79% · District 48% · ▲ 31 pts above district

▲ 36 pts above state median · ▲ 24 pts above county median

Grade 468%

School 68% · District 51% · ▲ 17 pts above district

▲ 31 pts above state median · ▲ 21 pts above county median

Grade 582%

School 82% · District 54% · ▲ 28 pts above district

▲ 49 pts above state median · ▲ 43 pts above county median

Grade 661%

School 61% · District 43% · ▲ 17 pts above district

▲ 32 pts above state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 3100%

School 100% · District 70% · ▲ 30 pts above district

▲ 35 pts above state median · ▲ 27 pts above county median

Grade 484%

School 84% · District 63% · ▲ 22 pts above district

▲ 26 pts above state median · ▲ 25 pts above county median

Grade 593%

School 93% · District 76% · ▲ 17 pts above district

▲ 26 pts above state median · ▲ 17 pts above county median

Grade 693%

School 93% · District 56% · ▲ 37 pts above district

▲ 38 pts above state median · ▲ 32 pts above county median

Science

Grade 479%

School 79% · District 42% · ▲ 37 pts above district

▲ 41 pts above state median · ▲ 42 pts above county median

This schoolFlorence City, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.