The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in English language arts. The lowest is 32% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Williams Avenue Elementary School
Williams Avenue Elementary School is a pre-kindergarten-only public school in Fort Payne, Alabama, part of the Fort Payne City Schools district. The school serves a single grade level, making it a specialized early childhood setting rather than a full elementary school. Its student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic population and smaller shares of Black, Asian, and multiracial students. The school does not serve grades that participate in state testing, so no current academic performance data from the Alabama ACAP assessments applies to its day-to-day program. However, the school’s data does include test results from the 2020-21 school year for grades three and four in reading, math, and science. Those results suggest that at the time the school served older students, reading proficiency rates were higher than math and science rates, with math and science proficiency rates lower overall. A parent should note that the school’s grade configuration appears to have changed since those test results were collected, and the current pre-K program likely focuses on early childhood development, kindergarten readiness, and foundational skills rather than the content tested in the upper elementary grades. The school’s overall proficiency index from that older data, when compared across districts in DeKalb County, placed it above the midpoint among the county’s districts, but that comparison reflects a past grade span and may not be directly relevant to the current pre-K program.
Fort Payne itself is a small city serving as the county seat of DeKalb County. The city has a manufacturing and industrial history, once known as a hub for hosiery production, and has since diversified into other manufacturing, healthcare, and tourism driven by nearby natural attractions. The city’s population is modest, with a notable Hispanic presence that reflects the industrial workforce. The built environment is car-dependent, with a historic downtown hosting civic landmarks such as the Fort Payne Opera House, the Depot Museum, and the city’s municipal buildings. Schools in the district are spread across separate campuses, and Williams Avenue Elementary is one of several elementary-level buildings. Major employers include a regional medical center, sanitation truck manufacturing, steel roofing production, playground equipment manufacturing, and a distribution center. The area offers outdoor recreation through DeSoto State Park, Little River Canyon National Preserve, and other nearby public lands. The district’s recent history shows no notable parent-relevant changes reported in publicly available sources.
Because Williams Avenue Elementary serves only pre-K, it does not generate a graduation rate, chronic absenteeism data, or other measures tied to older students. A parent considering this school should understand that it is an entry point into the district’s elementary progression, which includes Wills Valley Elementary for kindergarten through second grade, Little Ridge Intermediate for third through fifth, and then middle and high school. The school’s current academic focus is on early childhood development, and the older test data on file is not a measure of its present program. Families interested in the school’s curriculum, daily schedule, and how it prepares children for the next grade level should contact the school directly for current information. The surrounding community offers a mix of industrial employment, modest housing costs, and access to outdoor recreation, with a car-dependent layout that may shape daily routines for families with young children.
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