University Place Elementary School

Summary:

University Place Elementary School is a public elementary school in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, serving 599 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Tuscaloosa City School District, which is ranked 86 out of 137 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating.

University Place Elementary School faces significant challenges, with a student population that is predominantly African American (74.46%) and has a high percentage of students from low-income families (64-66% receive free or reduced-price lunch). The school consistently ranks in the bottom half of Alabama elementary schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating below-average performance. Its proficiency rates in math, science, and English language arts are significantly lower than the Tuscaloosa City and Alabama state averages across all grade levels. For example, the school's 3rd-grade math proficiency rate was just 21.79% in 2023-2024, compared to 39.88% for Tuscaloosa City and 42.16% for the state.

When compared to other nearby schools in the Tuscaloosa City district, such as Arcadia Elementary School and Verner Elementary School, University Place Elementary School is clearly underperforming. These schools have significantly higher academic performance and rankings compared to University Place. The consistent low performance and inability to improve over time at University Place Elementary School suggest the need for a comprehensive review of the school's instructional practices, resource allocation, and targeted interventions to address the unique needs of its student population.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 2000 First Avenue
       Tuscaloosa, AL  35401-3922


(205) 759-3664

District: Tuscaloosa City

SchoolDigger Rank:
527th of 684 Alabama Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,854 Help


Students who attend University Place Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Westlawn Middle School
High:    Central High School

Student/teacher ratio:  16.5 Help
Number of students:  612

Racial breakdown:

African American:
78.8%
Hispanic:
10.1%
White:
5.6%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  66.2% Help


 See top rated Alabama elementary schools

 Compare University Place Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
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Compare Details University Place Elementary School ranks worse than 77% of elementary schools in Alabama. It also ranks 10th among 12 ranked elementary schools in the Tuscaloosa City School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 22.59. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (78.8%), Hispanic (10.1%), White (5.6%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 66.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at University Place Elementary School is 16.5. 7 elementary schools in the Tuscaloosa City School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
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Compare University Place Elementary School employs 37 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at University Place Elementary School is $11,854, which is the 3rd highest among 12 elementary schools in the Tuscaloosa City School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

University Place Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks University Place Elementary School 527th of 684 Alabama public elementary schools. (See University Place Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:


Tuscaloosa City:

SchoolDigger ranks Tuscaloosa City 86th of 137 Alabama school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for University Place Elementary School?

Rank History for University Place Elementary School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at University Place Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 39.72 406th 623 34.8%
2005 14.40 645th 688 6.3%
2006 19.38 628th 689 8.9%
2007 19.19 627th 698 10.2%
2008 32.61 546th 698 21.8%
2009 32.78 550th 696 21.0%
2010 13.64 667th 704 5.3%
2011 30.88 571st 709 19.5%
2012 42.40 489th 696 29.7%
2013 38.81 523rd 696 24.9%
2014 31.77 508th 695 26.9%
2015 21.14 564th 691 18.4%
2016 25.71 527th 691 23.7%
2017 26.75 519th 688 24.6%
2018 36.06 454th 680 33.2%
2019 23.87 519th 681 23.8%
2021 28.42 488th 692 29.5%
2022 25.13 510th 687 25.8%
2023 30.77 480th 680 29.4%
2024 22.59 527th 684 23.0%
See the entire list of Alabama Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at University Place Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 54.02 43rd 123 65.0%
See the entire list of Best Alabama Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at University Place Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 46.35 191st 392 51.3%
2021 54.05 140th 398 64.8%
2023 49.08 160th 373 57.1%
2024 42.89 204th 395 48.4%
See the entire list of Best Alabama Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at University Place Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 35.86 396th 567 30.2%
2018 34.95 450th 651 30.9%
2019 25.70 521st 649 19.7%
2021 26.09 495th 653 24.2%
2022 22.92 522nd 651 19.8%
2023 32.64 437th 623 29.9%
2024 24.53 527th 670 21.3%
See the entire list of Best Alabama Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at University Place Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 25.72 499th 639 21.9%
2018 31.10 465th 640 27.3%
2019 22.11 527th 646 18.4%
2021 21.08 521st 656 20.6%
2022 16.61 563rd 656 14.2%
2023 24.70 498th 645 22.8%
2024 21.93 516th 650 20.6%
See the entire list of Best Alabama Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at University Place Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 29.54 457th 639 28.5%
2018 40.82 422nd 650 35.1%
2019 27.24 489th 650 24.8%
2021 36.25 427th 669 36.2%
2022 33.84 438th 669 34.5%
2023 37.49 417th 649 35.7%
2024 24.31 506th 655 22.7%
See the entire list of Best Alabama Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at University Place Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 59.98 130th 423 69.3%
2019 49.47 182nd 426 57.3%
2021 50.61 172nd 426 59.6%
2022 40.38 234th 426 45.1%
2023 43.68 219th 427 48.7%
2024 33.08 291st 420 30.7%
See the entire list of Best Alabama Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at University Place Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 32.24 132nd 184 28.3%
See the entire list of Best Alabama Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for Native American students at University Place Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 41.95 31st 57 45.6%
See the entire list of Best Alabama Elementary Schools for Native American Students!

Data source: test scores: Alabama State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

University Place Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Alabama State Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

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Reviews:
by a parent
Saturday, August 22, 2015

Open Quote Great little school with wonderful teachers! Close Quote



Enrollment information for University Place Elementary School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 382 382
1989 111 234 2 0 0 n/a n/a 0 347
1990 105 218 2 2 0 n/a n/a 0 327
1991 103 245 2 0 0 n/a n/a 0 350
1992 92 228 2 0 0 n/a n/a 0 322
1993 68 226 0 2 0 n/a n/a 0 296
1994 63 249 2 0 0 n/a n/a 0 314
1995 73 243 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 316
1996 73 243 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 316
1997 81 236 2 2 0 n/a n/a 0 321
1998 101 291 0 2 0 n/a n/a 0 394
1999 136 289 1 2 2 n/a n/a 0 430
2000 136 282 2 10 0 n/a n/a 0 430
2001 120 307 6 9 0 n/a n/a 0 442
2002 140 429 6 10 0 n/a n/a 0 585
2003 140 429 6 10 0 n/a n/a 0 585
2004 150 500 5 19 1 n/a n/a 0 675
2005 100 486 6 21 0 n/a n/a 0 613
2006 63 522 6 18 0 n/a n/a 1 610
2007 43 417 3 25 0 n/a n/a 2 490
2008 43 412 4 50 0 n/a n/a 0 509
2009 45 317 4 49 0 n/a n/a 0 415
2010 34 386 7 39 0 n/a n/a 1 467
2011 38 332 7 43 0 0 2 0 422
2012 13 277 10 39 0 0 3 0 342
2013 12 223 11 27 0 0 3 0 276
2014 39 313 20 37 0 3 9 0 421
2015 64 298 18 29 0 0 6 0 415
2016 50 300 11 38 1 0 6 0 406
2017 52 310 16 28 0 0 5 0 411
2018 45 265 17 24 0 1 5 0 357
2019 43 414 6 58 7 0 14 0 542
2020 46 429 9 54 3 1 15 0 557
2021 41 442 9 54 4 1 19 0 570
2022 43 443 20 58 3 1 13 0 581
2023 46 446 21 65 3 0 18 0 599
2024 34 482 21 62 1 1 11 0 612

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at University Place Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 382 19.5 19.5 0
1989 347 18.5 18.7 n/a
1990 327 21.0 15.5 0
1991 350 23.0 15.2 n/a
1992 322 24.0 13.4 n/a
1993 296 24.0 12.3 n/a
1994 314 25.0 12.6 n/a
1995 316 26.0 12.2 n/a
1996 316 26.0 12.2 n/a
1997 321 26.0 12.3 75.4
1998 394 29.0 13.6 65
1999 430 27.0 15.9 63.5
2000 430 28.0 15.4 49.3
2001 442 26.0 17.0 79
2002 585 38.2 15.3 83.6
2003 585 38.2 15.3 83.6
2004 675 40.2 16.8 74.4
2005 613 45.0 13.6 61.8
2006 610 42.0 14.5 84.4
2007 490 40.3 12.2 83.4
2008 509 36.7 13.9 56.2
2009 415 25.8 15.9 74
2010 467 26.2 17.7 76.8
2011 422 35.6 11.8 82.9
2012 342 28.6 11.9 82.5
2013 276 28.6 9.6 80.4
2014 421 32.3 13.0 68.9
2015 415 29.0 14.3 45.3
2016 406 28.0 14.5 49
2017 411 26.8 15.3 53.3
2018 357 24.8 14.3 67.5
2019 542 37.2 14.5 64.2
2020 557 37.3 14.9 63.9
2021 570 36.3 15.6 65.8
2022 581 34.0 17.0 64.9
2023 599 35.0 17.1 64.3
2024 612 37.0 16.5 66.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio University Place Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 382 19.5 19.5 0
1989 347 18.5 18.7 n/a
1990 327 21.0 15.5 0
1991 350 23.0 15.2 n/a
1992 322 24.0 13.4 n/a
1993 296 24.0 12.3 n/a
1994 314 25.0 12.6 n/a
1995 316 26.0 12.2 n/a
1996 316 26.0 12.2 n/a
1997 321 26.0 12.3 75.4
1998 394 29.0 13.6 65
1999 430 27.0 15.9 63.5
2000 430 28.0 15.4 49.3
2001 442 26.0 17.0 79
2002 585 38.2 15.3 83.6
2003 585 38.2 15.3 83.6
2004 675 40.2 16.8 74.4
2005 613 45.0 13.6 61.8
2006 610 42.0 14.5 84.4
2007 490 40.3 12.2 83.4
2008 509 36.7 13.9 56.2
2009 415 25.8 15.9 74
2010 467 26.2 17.7 76.8
2011 422 35.6 11.8 82.9
2012 342 28.6 11.9 82.5
2013 276 28.6 9.6 80.4
2014 421 32.3 13.0 68.9
2015 415 29.0 14.3 45.3
2016 406 28.0 14.5 49
2017 411 26.8 15.3 53.3
2018 357 24.8 14.3 67.5
2019 542 37.2 14.5 64.2
2020 557 37.3 14.9 63.9
2021 570 36.3 15.6 65.8
2022 581 34.0 17.0 64.9
2023 599 35.0 17.1 64.3
2024 612 37.0 16.5 66.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for University Place Elementary School

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,683 (14.2%) $10,153 (85.7%) $11,854

Data source: Alabama Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on University Place Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 519th of 681 Elementary schoolsRanks 480th of 680 Elementary schools
 5.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (University Place Elementary School)46.729
 17.7%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Tuscaloosa City)51.235.7
 15.6%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Alabama)57.543.6
 13.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (University Place Elementary School)27.312.4
 14.9%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Tuscaloosa City)42.825.7
 17.1%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Alabama)47.334.9
 12.4%
5th Grade Mathematics (University Place Elementary School)28.833.8
 5%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Tuscaloosa City)43.528.8
 14.7%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Alabama)44.933.9
 10.9%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students542599
 10.5%
African American414446
 7.7%
American Indian73
 57.1%
Asian621
 250%
Hispanic5865
 12.1%
Pacific Islander00
White4346
 7%
Two or More Races1418
 28.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients64.2%64.3%
 0.1%


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Frequently Asked Questions about University Place Elementary School

Students at University Place Elementary School are 79% African American, 10% Hispanic, 6% White, 3% Asian, 2% Two or more races.

University Place Elementary School ranks in the bottom 23.0% of Alabama elementary schools.

In the 2023-24 school year, 612 students attended University Place Elementary School.

Students who attend University Place Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Westlawn Middle School
High : Central High School


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Alabama State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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