Dutton Elementary School, Dutton AL

Original Research by School Decision on Dutton Elementary School

Dutton Elementary School is a regular public school serving students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in the small rural town of Dutton, Alabama, part of the Jackson County school system. The school sits atop Sand Mountain along State Highway 71, in a community where the built environment is sparse and walkability is minimal. Civic life centers on a combined Town Hall and Fire Department building, a community park, and a small library housed in a former residence. Dutton experienced modest population growth over recent years and was incorporated primarily to secure funding for a water system.

Academically, Dutton Elementary presents a pattern that varies by subject. In English language arts, students across tested grades post strong results, with proficiency rates that consistently reach well above the majority of students, including very high levels in several elementary grades. This is a clear strength of the school. Math performance is more uneven: proficiency rates hover around the middle range across grades, with a couple of grade levels where fewer than half of students meet the bar. Science results show a sharp drop between fourth grade, where a strong majority of students are proficient, and eighth grade, where only a modest share of students reach that mark. Parents of middle-schoolers may want to ask the school directly about science instruction at the upper grade level and what supports are in place. Overall, when looking at proficiency across all tested subjects and grades, Dutton Elementary’s performance places it above the typical district in Jackson County, though the county has a small number of districts for comparison.

The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Native American population and a smaller Hispanic share. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a community with significant economic need. The school is small enough that each grade has a manageable number of students, which can allow for more individual attention. No data on special education or English learner populations was available in the provided records.

Housing in the Dutton area is more affordable than the state and national medians, and the local economy is anchored by retail trade, educational services and healthcare, transportation and utilities, and manufacturing. No major employers are specifically named in available sources, and no significant new housing developments are noted.

A key piece of context for any family considering Dutton Elementary is that Jackson County Schools has been undergoing a multi-year consolidation effort, closing several small community schools and redrawing attendance zones. This structural change permanently alters school options, commute times, and class sizes across the district. While Dutton Elementary itself remains open, families should be aware that feeder patterns and the overall district landscape are in flux. How this consolidation affects middle-school graduates moving on to high school is worth clarifying with the district.

Dutton Elementary offers a consistent academic path from pre-K through the middle grades in a small, economically modest rural community. Its English language arts results are a notable strength, while math and especially middle-school science show room for growth. The school’s small size and local ties may appeal to families seeking a close-knit setting, particularly those who value strong early literacy outcomes and are prepared to engage with the school on subject areas where performance is softer. Given the district’s consolidation activity, families should also look into how these changes may affect the middle-to-high-school transition and transportation logistics in the years ahead.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 348%

School 48% · District 47% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

Grade 469%

School 69% · District 43% · ▲ 26 pts above district

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

Grade 560%

School 60% · District 40% · ▲ 20 pts above district

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

Grade 657%

School 57% · District 42% · ▲ 15 pts above district

▲ 28 pts above state median · ▲ 19 pts above county median

Grade 746%

School 46% · District 29% · ▲ 18 pts above district

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

Grade 850%

School 50% · District 29% · ▲ 21 pts above district

▲ 35 pts above state median · ▲ 28 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 383%

School 83% · District 72% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▲ 17 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

Grade 488%

School 88% · District 63% · ▲ 24 pts above district

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

Grade 592%

School 92% · District 72% · ▲ 20 pts above district

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

Grade 664%

School 64% · District 64%

▲ 9 pts above state median · even with county median

Grade 777%

School 77% · District 63% · ▲ 14 pts above district

▲ 23 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

Grade 859%

School 59% · District 62% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

Science

Grade 469%

School 69% · District 42% · ▲ 27 pts above district

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

Grade 823%

School 23% · District 38% · ▼ 16 pts below district

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

This schoolJackson County, 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.