The top reported proficiency rate is 31% in English language arts. The lowest is 12% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Mcdonnell Elementary School
McDonnell Elementary School is a regular public elementary school in Huntsville serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It sits within the Huntsville City school district, which in recent years adopted a balanced calendar that starts the school year in late July or early August, a lasting shift families in the district need to plan around.
The school’s enrollment reflects a high-poverty, majority-minority student body. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, placing the school at the deep end of economic disadvantage even within a district that includes many varied neighborhoods. Racially and ethnically, the student population is heavily Hispanic, with a sizeable Black minority and a smaller share of white students and students of two or more races. The share of Asian students is very small, and there are no enrolled Native American or Pacific Islander students on record.
A parent looking at academic outcomes will find a school that is struggling relative to its peers in Madison County. State assessment results for the most recent year show proficiency rates across all tested subjects and grades that place McDonnell in the bottom tier when compared with other districts across the county — this is not a comparison to every school in the county, but the grouping is notable because it signals that the school’s overall academic index is well below the county median. In math, proficiency rates decline steadily from third grade to fifth grade, with the fifth-grade rate particularly low. In English language arts, the picture is uneven: third and fourth grade rates are also low, but fifth grade achieves a higher rate, though still below the county average for that subject. Science results for fourth grade are similarly low.
Because McDonnell is a pre-K through fifth-grade school, there is no graduation rate to examine, and data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing, and course access are not available in the provided records. The absence of these measures means a parent cannot easily assess school climate, teacher experience, or enrichment opportunities through this profile alone. The school does not appear to be a magnet or charter school, and its Title I status is not reported, though given the poverty level it would be surprising if the school did not receive federal Title I funding.
The school is located in Huntsville, a fast-growing mid-size city with a technology-driven economy anchored by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Redstone Arsenal, and Cummings Research Park. Huntsville’s growth has been substantial, drawing families employed in aerospace, defense, and manufacturing. However, McDonnell Elementary sits in a part of town where housing values and rents, while still moderate by national standards, have seen slight recent declines — the area around the school is more affordable than many Huntsville neighborhoods, consistent with the school’s high concentration of low-income families.
For a family considering this school, the core facts are straightforward. McDonnell serves a diverse, economically disadvantaged student body in a city that is growing and adding economic opportunity. Its academic results, however, are significantly below the county norm. A parent may want to investigate further with the school directly what supports and interventions are in place, particularly in math where proficiency is weakest, and whether programs such as tutoring, extended learning, or community partnerships exist to address the challenge. Without data on special education, English learner services, or staffing ratios, families should ask about those directly. The balanced calendar adopted district-wide is a logistical detail that could affect summer plans and childcare, so it is worth confirming with the school.
McDonnell Elementary is a school that reflects the economic and demographic realities of its immediate area. It does not offer the academic profile many families seek, but the full picture depends on factors — such as specific teacher quality, family engagement, and supplementary programs — that are not captured in the available metrics.
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