The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in English language arts. The lowest is 22% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on L E Willson Elementary School
L E Willson Elementary School serves students in grades three through six in the Sheffield City district. It is a regular public school with no magnet or charter status, and it sits on a residential street in this small Tennessee River town.
The school’s state assessment results come from the 2024-25 Alabama ACAP exams. Reading and math are tested in every grade, and science is tested only in fourth grade. On the English language arts side, students in third grade posted the strongest proficiency, with more than half meeting the bar. Fourth grade dipped below two-fifths, while fifth and sixth grades each hovered near two-fifths. Math proficiency was lower across the board and showed a clear downward pattern from third to sixth grade. Third graders were at roughly two-fifths proficient, and by sixth grade the share was under one-fifth. The only science result, from fourth grade, landed near one-fifth proficient. When all tested subjects and grades are averaged into a single index, the school sits below the midpoint among the four districts in Colbert County. The single-year snapshot offers no trend, so it is not possible to say whether performance is rising or falling. A parent may want to ask the school what support is available for students who are below grade level, especially in math.
Enrollment is moderate for an elementary school serving four grades. The student body is mostly white, with a significant Black population and smaller shares of Hispanic and multiracial students. Asian, Native American, and Pacific Islander groups are not represented. More than three out of every four students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a rate that signals a high level of economic need. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available.
The school sits in Sheffield, a city of roughly moderate size that has seen its population hold steady or decline slightly over the past two decades. Heavy industry once anchored the local economy with aluminum smelting and a Ford casting plant, but both have closed. The area now has a smaller manufacturing base, a notable music heritage tied to Muscle Shoals studios, and Helen Keller Hospital as a major employer. Housing is affordable compared with state and national benchmarks, and the typical home value is well below the Alabama median. The district’s recent track record of property values has been essentially flat over the past year. Families considering Willson should find a modest housing market that offers reasonable entry points.
No information was reported on course access, staffing ratios, or discipline rates. For an elementary school that does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to examine. The district brief turned up no recent policy, curriculum, or budget changes that affect families in a lasting way.
L E Willson Elementary fits a family looking for an upper-elementary school in a small, affordable city with a distinct sense of place. The academic picture is mixed, with ELA stronger than math, and overall proficiency below the county middle. The student body is economically diverse, with a high share of families in need. A parent considering this school will want to learn more about how the district addresses math achievement and what enrichment or intervention programs are in place.
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