Monte Sano Elementary School, Huntsville AL

Original Research by School Decision on Monte Sano Elementary School

Monte Sano Elementary School serves students from prekindergarten through sixth grade in Huntsville, part of the Huntsville City school district. The school's state testing results from the most recent assessment year show that across the elementary grades tested, a strong majority of students met proficiency benchmarks in both reading and mathematics, and the school's overall performance placed it among the highest in a comparison of districts within Madison County. In reading, the share of students scoring proficient was consistently high from third through sixth grade, and math proficiency also reached a solid level with a slight uptick in sixth grade. Science results for fourth grade were similarly strong. Because the school serves only through sixth grade, no high school graduation rate is reported here. Only one year of test data was available, so trend information is not yet established.

The student body is predominantly white, with a much smaller share of Black students and still smaller representations of Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial students. About one in ten students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a relatively low rate that correlates with the economic profile of the surrounding area. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not included in the available records, so a family seeking information about special education or language support services would want to inquire directly with the school.

Monte Sano is located on a residential street on the Monte Sano mountain, a neighborhood on the eastern edge of Huntsville. Huntsville itself is a mid-size, fast-growing city whose economy is anchored by the aerospace and defense industries at Redstone Arsenal and Cummings Research Park, as well as a growing manufacturing base. The city has seen substantial population growth and recent annexations, and housing values in the 35801 ZIP code, where the school sits, are notably higher than both the state and national medians. Rental costs follow a similar pattern. For families considering a move to the area, this part of Huntsville commands a premium in the housing market.

The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. It is a neighborhood elementary school with a relatively modest enrollment for its grade span. The district made a change to a balanced calendar in 2023, shifting the start of the school year earlier into late summer and redistributing breaks throughout the year, a lasting shift that affects family schedules and childcare planning.

Information about course offerings, extracurricular programs, staffing ratios, and chronic absenteeism was not available in this profile. A parent looking into support programs, arts or enrichment offerings, or school climate would need to reach out to the school directly or visit its website.

Overall, Monte Sano Elementary presents a picture of a school where academic proficiency is a clear strength, the student population is relatively homogeneous and economically advantaged, and the surrounding community is a growing, high-cost city with a strong economic base. It fits families who prioritize strong test scores and a stable neighborhood setting, who can afford the area's elevated housing costs, and who are comfortable with the demographic makeup of the student body.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 369%

School 69% · District 39% · ▲ 30 pts above district

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

Grade 478%

School 78% · District 39% · ▲ 39 pts above district

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

Grade 576%

School 76% · District 32% · ▲ 44 pts above district

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

Grade 679%

School 79% · District 34% · ▲ 45 pts above district

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

English language arts

Grade 387%

School 87% · District 58% · ▲ 29 pts above district

▲ 22 pts above state median · ▲ 16 pts above county median

Grade 483%

School 83% · District 55% · ▲ 29 pts above district

▲ 25 pts above state median · ▲ 16 pts above county median

Grade 590%

School 90% · District 64% · ▲ 26 pts above district

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

Grade 690%

School 90% · District 58% · ▲ 32 pts above district

▲ 34 pts above state median · ▲ 20 pts above county median

Science

Grade 478%

School 78% · District 40% · ▲ 38 pts above district

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

This schoolHuntsville 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.