Westhills Elementary School vs. Charles F Hard Elementary School
Should you attend Westhills Elementary School or Charles F Hard Elementary School? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, test scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.
School Overview
School
Overview
Westhills Elementary School in Bessemer, AL, ranked #971 in the state in 2023, showing a decline from #172 in 2012 and fluctuating within the bottom 50% of Alabama schools over recent years.
Math proficiency ranged between 10–14%, reading proficiency between 25–29%, and science proficiency was 10% or lower, all lower than the Alabama state averages.
Enrollment decreased to 297 students with a student–teacher ratio of 17:1; the school serves grades Kindergarten through 5 with a 98% minority enrollment and 75% of students eligible for free or reduced–price lunch.
Graduation rates remained below the state average, at 71% in 2023 compared to the state average of 88%, consistent with district trends.
Westhills Elementary operates as a Title I eligible school without virtual instruction options and participates in the National School Lunch Program under the Community Eligibility Option.
Charles F Hard Elementary School in Bessemer, AL, ranked #1130 in the state in 2023, showing a decline from #972 in 2018 and placing it in the bottom 50% of Alabama public schools.
Math proficiency ranged from 10% to 14%, reading proficiency from 10% to 14%, and science proficiency was 10% or less, all lower than the Alabama state averages of 30%, 47%, and 38%, respectively, with declining trends noted in recent years.
Enrollment stabilized near 350 students with a 22:1 student–teacher ratio in 2023; minority enrollment remained high at 99%, with 85% of students eligible for free lunch, indicating sustained socioeconomic challenges.
The school served grades Pre–K through 5, with 350 students and 16 teachers in recent reporting, and did not offer virtual instruction.
Graduation rates and academic performance consistently trailed state averages, with significant declines in overall state ranking and persistently low proficiency rates in core subjects.
Grades Offered
PK-5
PK-5
Total Students
277 students
364 students
Total Classroom Teachers
16 teachers
19 teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
19:1
Test Scores
Overall Testing Rank
#971 out of 1275 schools in AL
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
#1130 out of 1275 schools in AL
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
10-14%
10-14%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
25-29%
10-14%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
≤10%
≤10%
Students by Grade
Students by Grade
Pre-K Students
16
29
Kindergarten Students
48
65
Grade 1 Students
40
61
Grade 2 Students
45
56
Grade 3 Students
42
58
Grade 4 Students
45
43
Grade 5 Students
41
52
Students by Ethnicity
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
n/a
n/a
n/a
% Hispanic
12%
8%
% Black
85%
87%
% White
2%
1%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
1%
4%
Diversity Score
0.27
0.24
Additional Information
Eligible for Free Lunch
74%
81%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
3%
1%