Central Elementary School

Central Elementary School, a small elementary-level community in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, run under Tuscaloosa City, works with 291 students, covering grades pre-K through 5. Compared to the state average of about 480 students per school, that is 39% smaller than typical.

Central Elementary School is one of 19 schools operated by Tuscaloosa City, a district that enrolls 11,230 students overall.

Demographically, Central Elementary School lists that nearly all students (80%) are Black. The remainder comes out to 17% Hispanic. By comparison, Tuscaloosa County as a whole is about 31% Black, so the school skews noticeably more Black than its surroundings.

In terms of school funding signals, On paper, Central Elementary School has 20 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 14.5:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 17.0:1, putting Central Elementary School tighter than the state norm the norm. Around 79% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, often used as a Title I proxy. Set against Tuscaloosa County (around 54%), the school's rate is somewhat above typical.

With demographic context factored in, Central Elementary School sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 26.8%; this one delivers 33.7%.

In the area at large, census data for Tuscaloosa County shows median household income runs about $66,231, roughly 32% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate sits near 11%. Central Elementary School is one of 58 public schools in Tuscaloosa County (combined enrollment of about 30,508 students).

Nearest neighbor: Westlawn Middle School, around 0.1 miles off. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Central Elementary School at 4th of 8; the average score across the group is 35.5%.

The campus sits in an inner-city setting.

Looking at the recent track record. Over the past 7-year window, the student count declined 14%: 340 students in 2018 compared to 291 in 2025. The Black share of enrollment declined from 96% to 80% over that span. Class-load math has narrowed: from 15.6:1 in 2018 to 14.5:1 in 2025.

Within the allk12 community for this school, posts here usually surface around school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. The community welcomes input from current and former families.