The top reported proficiency rate is 88% in English language arts. The lowest is 69% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Rock Quarry Elementary School
Rock Quarry Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Tuscaloosa, a city whose character is defined by the University of Alabama, major industrial employers like Mercedes-Benz, and a regional role in healthcare and commerce. The school sits within the Tuscaloosa City Schools district, which in the recent past secured substantial funding through a voter-approved bond referendum for new construction and renovations across its campuses, including a new building for Central High School. That capital investment signals a district investing in its physical infrastructure for the long term.
The school itself is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. Its enrollment is large for an elementary, and the student body is notably diverse, with the largest share of students being white, followed by smaller but meaningful numbers of Black, Asian, and Hispanic students, along with students who identify as two or more races. A relatively small proportion of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a different economic context from many other public elementary schools in the area.
On state assessments, Rock Quarry’s results are strong. In English language arts, a very high share of students in each tested grade scored at or above the proficiency benchmark. In math, a solid majority of students in each grade also met that standard, with the fourth and fifth grade results at a similar level to each other and third grade somewhat lower but still representing a clear majority. In science, which is tested in fourth grade, a large majority of students again scored proficient. When compared to other districts in Tuscaloosa County, the school’s overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile. This is a school where most students are meeting state academic expectations at a high rate.
Because Rock Quarry serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and data on chronic absenteeism and special population counts such as students with disabilities or English learners were not available in the provided information. A parent who wants to understand the level of support for those groups would need to ask the school directly.
The housing context in the area around the school is one of higher home values relative to state and national benchmarks, and the neighborhood itself, in the eastern part of Tuscaloosa, is a residential area that has seen its own patterns of growth and change. The city overall has grown in population in recent years and has been reshaped by rebuilding after a devastating tornado, as well as by ongoing development tied to the university and local industry.
For a parent or family considering this school, the picture is of an elementary school with a strong academic record and a student body that, while not economically disadvantaged at the same rate as many other public schools, is still racially and ethnically diverse. The school is part of a district that has committed to major facility improvements, and it sits in a part of Tuscaloosa where housing costs are elevated relative to much of the state. The academics are clearly a strength. The missing pieces around special education and English learner services, as well as any details on school climate or discipline, are gaps a parent would want to fill by visiting, talking to staff, or meeting other families.
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