Forest Hills School vs. Harlan Elementary School

Forest Hills School in Florence, AL, ranked #126 in Alabama in 2023, showing a decline from its peak rank of #36 in 2016 and fluctuating rankings over the past decade.

Math proficiency was 54% in 2023, higher than the Alabama state average of 30%, though this reflects a decline from a high of 95% in 2012; reading proficiency stood at 69%, higher than the state average of 47%, maintaining a generally strong position.

Minority enrollment accounted for 36% of the 827 students in 2023, with stable enrollment and a consistent student–teacher ratio of 15:1 over recent years; 39% of students qualified for free lunch in 2023, reflecting socioeconomic factors.

Forest Hills School serves grades Pre–K through 4 with 55 teachers and participates in the National School Lunch Program under the Community Eligibility Option; the school had a 94% graduation rate in 2023, exceeding the state average of 88%.

Science proficiency ranged from 55% to 59%, higher than the state average of approximately 38%, though reported data shows an unusually high figure likely due to formatting errors, which should be noted.

Harlan Elementary School, a Florence public elementary school serving grades PK–4, ranked #604 in Alabama in 2023, improving from #862 in 2021 but declining from top 50 rankings in early 2010s.

Math proficiency ranged between 35–39%, higher than the state average of about 30%, while reading proficiency was 30–34%, lower than the state average near 47%, and science proficiency was 15–19%, also lower than the state average around 38%.

Enrollment declined slightly from 423 students in 2022 to 402 in 2023, with minority enrollment steady at 69%; 86% of students were eligible for free lunch, indicating a high proportion of economically disadvantaged students.

The school maintained a student–teacher ratio of 13:1 with 389 students and about 30 teachers, supporting a relatively low ratio ranked in the top 5% statewide.

Graduation rates consistently exceeded the state average, with 94% in 2023 compared to Alabama's 88%, reflecting successful student outcomes beyond elementary grades in the district.