The top reported proficiency rate is 40% in English language arts. The lowest is 7% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Oakdale Elementary School
Oakdale Elementary School serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in Tuscaloosa, part of the Tuscaloosa City Schools district. It is a small elementary building, and its student body is overwhelmingly Black, with a small Hispanic share and a handful of students from other backgrounds. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, placing the school in a high-poverty context. Data on students with individualized education programs or English learner status was not reported, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those populations.
Academically, the most recent state assessments from the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program show a pattern of low proficiency that becomes more pronounced in the upper elementary grades. In math, about half of third graders scored at the proficient level, but that share dropped to roughly a quarter in fourth grade and to about one in ten in fifth grade. In English language arts, half of third graders met the bar, declining to roughly two in five in fourth grade and closer to three in ten in fifth grade. Science, tested only in fourth grade, posted a very low proficiency rate, with only a small fraction of students reaching the standard. The school’s overall proficiency index, combining all tested subjects and grades, places it in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Tuscaloosa County. Only a single year of test results is available, so there is no data on how performance has changed over time. Because Oakdale serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and chronic absenteeism figures were not available in the data provided.
The school sits within Tuscaloosa, a city whose character is shaped by the University of Alabama, a regional engine for employment, culture, and healthcare. The city also hosts a large Mercedes-Benz assembly plant and a mix of industrial manufacturing, giving the local economy a diverse base. Downtown Tuscaloosa has a distinctive canopy of water oaks, and the university campus sits near the city center. The Black Warrior River runs through the city, and parks, a museum, and an archaeological site provide recreational and civic anchors. The city has grown steadily, and a major tornado in 2011 led to extensive rebuilding.
For families looking at Oakdale Elementary, the district context includes a voter-approved bond referendum in 2022 that funds new construction and renovations, including a new Central High School building. That capital investment signals a longer-term commitment to facilities across the district, though it is not clear how Oakdale specifically benefits. No information on the school’s own programs, such as arts, music, or enrichment offerings, was included in the data. A parent seeking details on extracurriculars or academic supports would need to contact the school directly.
In short, Oakdale Elementary is a small, high-poverty school serving a predominantly Black student body in a college town with a mixed industrial economy. Its test results are low across the board and trail those of other districts in the county, with the gap widening by fifth grade. A family considering this school would want to understand what academic interventions or supports are in place, how the school approaches early literacy and math foundations, and what resources the district’s recent bond money may bring to the elementary level. The housing market in the area shows home values around the middle of the national range, with rents rising slightly, so the cost of living for the neighborhood is moderate compared to national averages.
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