The top reported proficiency rate is 40% in English language arts. The lowest is 15% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Garrett Elementary School
Garrett Elementary School is a regular public school in Montgomery, Alabama, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is one of the elementary schools within the Montgomery County school district. The school operates in a city that functions as the state capital, combining state government, a major military presence at Maxwell Air Force Base, higher education institutions, and a significant high-tech manufacturing sector anchored by Hyundai. The city’s downtown has seen notable revitalization, while the broader metro area remains largely car-dependent.
The student body at Garrett is characterized by a high degree of racial and economic concentration. The composition is predominantly Black, by a wide margin, with a very small share of White, Hispanic, Asian, or multiracial students. A large majority of the student population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, which is one indicator of the economic context families bring to the school. Data on the share of students receiving special education services or classified as English learners was not available in the provided records, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
On state assessments, Garrett’s academic results present a mixed picture that merits close attention. In English language arts, roughly two out of every five students across the tested grades demonstrated proficiency. This was the strongest subject area for the school. In mathematics, the proficiency rate was lower, with fewer than one in five students meeting the bar in any tested grade. In science, which is assessed in fourth grade, proficiency was at a similar level to math. When the school’s overall proficiency across subjects and grades is compared to other districts in Montgomery County, it sits above the midpoint of the county rankings. However, the value itself is low in absolute terms, and a family considering the school will want to understand what academic support and intervention strategies are in place, particularly for math and science.
Because the state testing data available covers only a single school year, there is no trend information to indicate whether performance is improving, declining, or holding steady. This is a gap in the picture, and a parent looking for signs of academic momentum would need to ask the school or district for historical results.
Garrett is a regular public school, not a charter school. Its status as a Title I school, which often provides additional federal funding to support low-income students, was not reported in the data. The school environment data, including information on discipline, access to courses, staffing ratios, and attendance, was not present. These are important areas where a prospective parent would want to seek information directly. The Montgomery County school district itself did not have any publicly reported, lasting parent-relevant changes in the recent period that could be confirmed from the search conducted.
The housing market in the area shows a typical mix for a mid-sized Southern capital. The typical home value in the zip code is relatively moderate compared to the national average, and the typical rent is similarly positioned. Affordability measures suggest that buying a home is more expensive than renting on a monthly basis for a typical household, a common dynamic in many markets. For a family, this means the neighborhood around Garrett is not an exceptionally high-cost area, but a home purchase does require a higher monthly commitment than renting.
This school is best understood as a place where a family will want to be deeply involved and informed. The academic numbers are the central consideration. The gap between ELA and math performance is notable, and the lack of multi-year data or information on special programs and support staff makes it harder to evaluate the school’s full picture from this data alone. For a family that values a strong, engaged parent community and is prepared to advocate for and supplement their child’s education, particularly in math, Garrett may fit. For a family looking for a school that already shows consistently strong outcomes across all core subjects, this school’s current profile would warrant a closer look and a conversation with the principal and teachers.
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