The top reported proficiency rate is 39% in English language arts. The lowest is 20% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on C L Salter Elementary School
C L Salter Elementary School is a regular public school in Talladega serving grades one through three. It is one of three elementary schools in the Talladega City district and the only one that covers this early primary span. The school’s enrollment is concentrated in the early grades, with the largest numbers in first and second grade and a smaller third-grade cohort. Because the school does not serve older students, there is no graduation rate or high school outcome data to consider.
The student body is mostly Black, with a White minority and smaller numbers of multiracial, Hispanic, and Asian students. A very high share of students come from families with economic need, qualifying for free or reduced-price meals. This level of concentrated poverty is an important context for how the school is resourced and for the challenges families may face outside the classroom. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school about its special education and language support programs directly.
On state assessments, the school’s third graders scored below the midpoint in overall proficiency compared to other elementary schools in Talladega County districts. In math, about a quarter of third graders met the proficiency standard. In English language arts, the share was higher, though still below the county median. Science results from a prior year, when the school may have served a fourth grade that it no longer does, showed a lower proficiency rate, but that data is several years old and not comparable to current testing. The trend data has only one year of results, so there is no way to tell whether performance is improving or declining. A parent looking for academic growth measures may want to ask the district about formative assessments and early literacy screening.
Talladega is a county seat with a historic courthouse square, a working railroad through town, and a mix of agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism. The Talladega Superspeedway draws NASCAR crowds, and the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind and Talladega College are major institutional presences. The city is more car-oriented than walkable outside the downtown core, though there are audible crosswalk signals and specially designed sidewalks reflecting the AIDB community. Housing is affordable relative to state and national benchmarks, with home values well below the Alabama median. Rents are also modest. The local economy has been stable, and the city has seen modest population growth, with the school district serving a population that is not rapidly expanding or shrinking.
The school itself is a neighborhood elementary in the Brecon Access Road area, which was historically an industrial part of town during World War II. There is no publicly reported information about recent district-level changes or strategic priorities, and the school’s program offerings were not included in the available data. Families may need to check the school’s website or visit to learn about enrichment, art, music, physical education, and any before- or after-school care.
C L Salter Elementary is a small, high-poverty primary school in a stable small city with low housing costs and a distinct civic identity. Its academic results are below the county midpoint for the only testing year available. For a parent considering this school, the central question is whether the early-grade instruction and supports meet the needs of a student who will then move to a larger elementary or intermediate school within the district. The limited testing window and lack of trend data mean that a close look at classroom experience and teacher-parent communication is especially important.
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