The top reported proficiency rate is 87% in English language arts. The lowest is 67% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Eura Brown Elementary School
Eura Brown Elementary School is a regular public school in Gadsden, Alabama, serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is one of eight elementary schools in the Gadsden City district, a system that oversees fourteen schools across the city. Gadsden itself is a mid-sized city and the county seat of Etowah County. Once a center of heavy industry — the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and Republic Steel were major employers — the city has been navigating an economic transition for decades. Healthcare, education, and food processing now dominate employment. Downtown Gadsden along Broad Street has seen revitalization, including the Cultural Arts Center and the Gadsden Museum of Art, while the wider city remains car-dependent outside the core. The population has declined slightly from the 2020 census, and the city continues to promote industrial growth and entrepreneurship.
Academically, Eura Brown stands out within Etowah County. On the 2024–25 state assessments, overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades placed the school in the top quartile relative to districts in Etowah County — clearly above the county median. In English language arts, proficiency rates were notably high. Third graders posted a strong result, fourth graders also performed well, and fifth graders hit an even higher mark. In mathematics, proficiency was solid across all three tested grades. Science, assessed only in fourth grade, was a softer spot, with a rate that lagged behind the school’s other subjects. A parent may want to ask the school how science instruction is structured, though one year of data does not define a trend. No multi-year comparison is possible because only the current year is available. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report.
The student body reflects a primarily white enrollment, with a substantial share of Black students and smaller numbers of Asian, Hispanic, multiracial, and American Indian students. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of moderate economic need. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the records reviewed. The school’s size is moderate for an elementary, with classes from kindergarten through fifth grade each containing a typical range, plus a small pre-K program.
Housing in the area is notably more affordable than the national and state averages, based on home values in the zip code. The estimated monthly mortgage at current rates is moderate relative to income, and the price-to-income ratio is below the national benchmark. This indicates that families looking to buy near the school may find the market accessible compared to many other parts of the country. The unemployment rate in the latest data is consistent with national levels. No recent district-level changes — such as boundary adjustments, program launches, or leadership shifts — were found in publicly available sources, leaving the district’s recent direction uncharacterized.
No information was reported on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, or staffing ratios, so a family seeking a detailed picture of school climate would need to follow up with the school directly. The school is not a charter or magnet, and its Title I status was not indicated in the data. For a family considering Gadsden, Eura Brown Elementary offers a strong academic record relative to other schools in the county, with reading and math performance that is consistently high. The school’s setting in a city with a fading industrial past but active downtown renewal gives it a particular character — one where housing costs are manageable and the school itself is a clear strength.
See more original research from School Decision →