Harlan Elementary School vs. Forest Hills School
Should you attend Harlan Elementary School or Forest Hills 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
Top Rankings
Harlan Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Alabama for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Percent Eligible For Free Lunch
Student Attention
Forest Hills School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Alabama for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Math Proficiency
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Student Attention
Overview
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.
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.
Blue Ribbon Schools
-
Yes
Grades Offered
PK-4
PK-4
Total Students
389 students
827 students
% Male | % Female
54% | 46%
53% | 47%
Total Classroom Teachers
30 teachers
55 teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
15:1
Test Scores
Overall Testing Rank
#604 out of 1275 schools in AL
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
#126 out of 1275 schools in AL
(Top 10%)
(Top 10%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
35-39%
54%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
30-34%
69%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
15-19%
55-59%
Students by Grade
Students by Grade
Kindergarten Students
73
187
Grade 1 Students
86
178
Grade 2 Students
92
161
Grade 3 Students
78
157
Grade 4 Students
60
144
Students by Ethnicity
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
1%
% Hispanic
4%
6%
% Black
45%
18%
% White
31%
64%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
19%
11%
Diversity Score
0.67
0.55
Additional Information
Eligible for Free Lunch
86%
39%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
4%
5%
