The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in English language arts. The lowest is 25% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Tanner Elementary School
Tanner Elementary School is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in the unincorporated community of Tanner, Alabama, part of Limestone County Schools. The school sits along U.S. Highway 31 in a rural residential area with agricultural and suburban influences, situated between Athens to the north and Decatur to the south. There is no incorporated downtown or municipal center in Tanner; the elementary school and the local high school serve as the primary civic anchors in the community.
The student body at Tanner Elementary is diverse, with no single racial or ethnic group forming a majority. White students make up the largest share, followed by Hispanic students and then Black students, with smaller numbers of students who identify as two or more races. A substantial share of students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a community where economic need is present across many households.
State assessment results from the Alabama ACAP for the 2024-2025 school year offer a picture of academic performance that families will want to examine carefully. In English language arts, the share of students meeting proficiency standards was modest, with the highest rate in fifth grade and a lower rate in third grade. Mathematics proficiency was similarly modest, with fourth graders performing at a higher rate than third or fifth graders. Fourth-grade science proficiency was also modest. Compared to other districts in Limestone County, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quartile. The data covers only one year, so no trend can be assessed, but the current numbers suggest that a significant share of students are not yet at grade-level benchmarks in core subjects. Parents may want to speak with the school about its academic improvement plans and how it supports students who need additional help.
The school operates under Limestone County Schools, a district that has experienced notable enrollment growth in recent years, leading to construction and renovation projects at several schools, including Tanner High School. The district has also adopted a new K-3 reading curriculum aligned with the Alabama Literacy Act for the 2024-2025 school year, which directly affects early literacy instruction at Tanner Elementary. A renewed property tax, approved by voters, provides ongoing funding for school operations and programs. The district opened a new Career Technical Education Center, though that facility serves secondary students and does not directly affect the elementary campus.
Housing in the Tanner area is priced modestly compared to national benchmarks. Homes in the 35671 ZIP code have values that are moderately higher than the state average but below the national median. The broader economic context shows a stable unemployment rate and a median household income at the national figure.
The school serves only elementary grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. It is not a charter or magnet school. Civil rights data, disciplinary records, staffing ratios, and chronic absenteeism figures were not available for this profile. Families interested in those details would need to request them directly from the district.
Tanner Elementary is a small, rural school serving a diverse, economically mixed community. Its academic results are below the county average, and a parent considering the school will want to understand what interventions and supports are in place to address this. The school sits within a growing district that has invested in facilities and early literacy curriculum, but the academic numbers on the most recent state tests give a clear starting point for a conversation with the school about what is being done to raise achievement.
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