Donehoo Elementary School

Donehoo Elementary School, a close-knit elementary school in Gadsden, Alabama, part of Gadsden City, teaches 225 students, covering grades pre-K through 5. That puts it 53% leaner than the typical public school in Alabama, which averages around 480 students.

Gadsden City comprises 12 schools with combined enrollment of 4,940 students; Donehoo Elementary School is among them.

On demographics, Donehoo Elementary School logs that Black students make up the majority at 70%. Other groups include 18% Hispanic, 9% White, 2% multiracial. That is meaningfully more Black than the county at large, where the share is closer to 15%.

In terms of school funding signals, Donehoo Elementary School shows 12 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 18.3:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 17.0:1, putting Donehoo Elementary School higher than the state norm the norm. About 73% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy. Set against Etowah County (around 58%), the school's rate is north of typical.

With demographic context factored in, Donehoo Elementary School is in the OUTPERFORMING tier of the BeatsExpectations model, which fits a per-state line through proficiency and FRL share. Schools with this campus's poverty mix typically land near 30.7%; this one delivers 48.5%, a residual of +17.8 points.

In the surrounding community, Etowah County reports that median household income runs about $54,563, 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 12% of residents live below the federal poverty line. In all, Etowah County runs 42 public schools (combined enrollment of about 15,139 students), of which Donehoo Elementary School is one.

Adams Elementary School is the nearest neighboring public school, about 1.0 miles from this campus. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Donehoo Elementary School at 1st of 8; the average score across the group is 37.0%.

The campus sits in a downtown setting.

Five-year trend. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Donehoo Elementary School has fell 16%, going from 269 students in 2018 to 225 in 2025. Hispanic enrollment moved from 9% to 18% across the same window. The student-to-teacher ratio loosened from 16.4:1 in 2018 to 18.3:1 today.

On the community side, the feed for Donehoo Elementary School typically covers pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.