The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in English language arts. The lowest is 14% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Holt Elementary School
Holt Elementary School is a regular public school in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It sits within the Tuscaloosa County school system, one of three school districts in the county. The school draws its student body from the broader Tuscaloosa area, a city that blends the character of a college town with industrial and residential neighborhoods. The University of Alabama is the dominant economic and cultural force, and a major Mercedes-Benz assembly plant operates nearby, giving the region a manufacturing dimension alongside its educational institutions. The city has seen significant growth and redevelopment in the years following a devastating tornado, and its housing market remains more affordable than state and national averages.
The student population is moderate in size for an elementary school, with several hundred children enrolled. The school serves a diverse community: a majority of students are Black, a substantial share are Hispanic, and there is a smaller white population. A large majority of families qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating a high level of economic need. That economic context is relevant for understanding the academic results, though the school itself does not publicly report data on students with disabilities or English learners, so the full picture of student support needs is incomplete.
On state assessments administered in the 2024-25 school year, Holt Elementary’s results show a significant gap in mathematics. In each tested grade, roughly one in seven students met state standards. Reading scores were higher, with about two out of five third graders meeting the mark, though fourth graders dipped closer to three in ten, and fifth graders recovered to near the third-grade level. In fourth-grade science, about one in four students reached proficiency. Across all subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index placed it in the bottom quartile among districts in Tuscaloosa County. These are the most recent results available, and no prior year data exists for comparison, so it is unclear whether scores are improving or stable.
A parent considering this school may want to ask the school directly about its approach to math instruction and what interventions are in place. The data do not cover chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing, or program offerings such as gifted or specialized services, so those are open questions. The school’s grade span stops at fifth grade, so there is no high school graduation metric to consider.
In terms of setting, Holt Elementary is situated in a city with a downtown core lined with water oaks and a university campus integrated into the urban fabric. The Black Warrior River runs through town, and civic anchors like Capitol Park and the Alabama Museum of Natural History are nearby. The city has a mix of antebellum homes, modern commercial districts, and industrial zones. The economic base supports a range of housing options, with typical home values well below the national figure.
No recent district-level changes in Tuscaloosa County were identified through publicly available sources, so the school appears to be operating under stable leadership and policy. For families, Holt Elementary offers a neighborhood school serving a high-need population with room for academic growth, particularly in math. The reading and science scores, while not strong, are closer to the middle range. The school’s strengths lie in its role as a community anchor in a diverse, economically challenged area, but the test results suggest that families should engage directly with the school to understand how it supports students who are not yet meeting grade-level benchmarks.
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