The top reported proficiency rate is 69% in English language arts. The lowest is 37% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on R E Thompson Intermediate School
R E Thompson Intermediate School serves third through fifth graders in Tuscumbia, Alabama, as part of the Tuscumbia City school system. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and its grade band means it functions as a bridge between primary and middle school. Enrollment is moderate for an intermediate school, and a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting a community with many families of modest means. The student body is majority white, with a significant Black minority and smaller Hispanic and multiracial groups; the school is not highly diverse but includes some racial and ethnic variety.
State testing from the 2024–25 school year, the only year currently available, offers a mixed but largely positive picture. In English language arts, proficiency rates are strong across all three grades, with the third and fifth grades performing particularly well and the fourth grade a little lower but still solid. Math proficiency is more varied: third graders perform close to the ELA level, fourth graders sit near the midpoint, and fifth graders show a noticeable drop. Science, tested only in fourth grade, comes in at a lower level, which may be a point of concern or simply reflect the difficulty of the assessment. Because only a single year of test results is available, there is no trend to evaluate, so it is unclear whether these figures represent a baseline, an improvement, or a decline.
Compared with other school districts in Colbert County, R E Thompson’s overall proficiency index places it in the top quarter of the four districts. That is a strong relative showing, though the comparison is to district-level averages rather than to individual schools, and the county contains a mix of rural and small-city communities. No data on chronic absenteeism or discipline was available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about attendance patterns and school climate.
The school sits in Tuscumbia, a small city that serves as the Colbert County seat. It is part of the Shoals area, a four-city metro along the Tennessee River with a historic downtown centered on the county courthouse square, a regional industrial base that includes flooring, aluminum, and lumber manufacturing, and cultural anchors such as Spring Park, the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, and Ivy Green, the birthplace of Helen Keller. Housing values in Tuscumbia are below both the state and national medians, and the area has seen modest population growth. The school’s campus is separate from downtown, consistent with the pattern of standalone school sites in the district. No recent district-level changes of lasting consequence were publicly reported, so the school appears to be operating in a stable administrative environment.
For a family considering this school, the academic picture is one of solid reading and writing instruction paired with more uneven math results and a science score that invites follow-up. The high share of students eligible for meal assistance suggests the school serves a population with economic needs, and the relative strength in ELA within that context is a notable accomplishment. The school’s intermediate-only structure means students will transition to a different campus for middle school, which may appeal to families who prefer a focused upper-elementary environment. Parents concerned about math or science achievement may want to review the school’s curriculum and intervention offerings directly.
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