The top reported proficiency rate is 84% in English language arts. The lowest is 62% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Goldsmithschiffman Elementary
The school is GoldsmithSchiffman Elementary, a regular public elementary school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade in Big Cove, an unincorporated community in Madison County, Alabama. The school is part of the Huntsville City Schools district, which includes Big Cove under a 2023 annexation that brought the northern part of the community into Huntsville city limits. Big Cove itself is a rapidly growing suburban area east of Huntsville, a formerly agricultural landscape now filled with master-planned subdivisions like Hampton Cove and McMullen Cove, where new developments including the proposed Big Cove Village promise more homes, apartments, and commercial space in the years ahead. Housing values in this area are well above the Alabama median, making it a relatively expensive place to live compared to the rest of the state.
The student body is large for an elementary school, with enrollment across all grades from prekindergarten through fifth grade. The student population is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic, Black, Asian, and multiracial students. A modest share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is low relative to many schools in the state and reflects the area’s relatively high-income demographics. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the available records. Families evaluating the school for a special education or English language program should look into what supports are actually in place.
State assessment results from the 2024-25 school year show a mixed picture depending on the subject and grade level. English language arts performance is a clear strength. Across tested grades, a strong majority of students met the bar for proficiency, with particularly strong results in fifth grade. Math results are more modest. A solid majority of third and fourth graders scored proficient, while the fifth-grade math figure is lower, with more than two-fifths of students falling below the proficiency threshold. Science results, available for fourth grade, show about two-thirds of students proficient. Because the available data covers only a single year, there is no trend to evaluate. Overall, the school’s composite proficiency index across all subjects and grades places it in the top quartile when compared to other schools in Madison County districts, a strong showing.
The school serves a neighborhood where residents are car-dependent and commute to Huntsville for work, though greenways and parks provide some recreational walkability. There is no traditional downtown, and a planned village center remains years from completion. The school’s parent district, Huntsville City, shifted to a balanced calendar in 2023 that starts the school year earlier and redistributes breaks, which is an ongoing factor for family planning.
This is a school that posts very strong reading scores and solid science results, with math performance that is respectable but less consistent, especially in the upper elementary grades. The peer environment is relatively advantaged economically, and the surrounding community is growing quickly with new housing, which may mean enrollment pressure over time. Families who value high English language arts performance and are comfortable with a large, suburban elementary school in a fast-growing, car-dependent area will find this a strong fit. Those with concerns about math achievement or who need special education or English learner services should contact the school directly, as the available data does not speak to those program areas.
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