Shades Cahaba Elementary School

3001 Independence Drive
Birmingham, AL 35209
(School attendance zone shown in map)
10/
10
Top 10%
Serving 510 students in grades Kindergarten-5, Shades Cahaba Elementary School ranks in the top 10% of all schools in Alabama for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 10%, and reading proficiency is top 10%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 57% (which is higher than the Alabama state average of 29%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 77% (which is higher than the Alabama state average of 47%).
The student:teacher ratio of 15:1 is lower than the Alabama state level of 17:1.
Minority enrollment is 27% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is lower than the Alabama state average of 49% (majority Black).

Quick Stats (2025)

  • Grades: Kindergarten-5
  • Enrollment: 510 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 27%
  • : Top 10% in AL
  • : 57% (Top 10%)
  • : 77% (Top 5%)
  • : 55-59% (Top 20%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AL Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Shades Cahaba Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Alabama for:

School Overview

Shades Cahaba Elementary School's student population of 510 students has declined by 5% over five school years.
The teacher population of 34 teachers has declined by 12% over five school years.
Grades Offered
Grades Kindergarten-5
Total Students
510 students
This chart displays total students of Shades Cahaba Elementary School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Gender %
This chart displays gender of Shades Cahaba Elementary School
Total Classroom Teachers
34 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of Shades Cahaba Elementary School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Shades Cahaba Elementary School by grade.

School Rankings

Shades Cahaba Elementary School ranks within the top 10% of all 1,285 schools in Alabama (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Shades Cahaba Elementary School is 0.45, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.63. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
This School
State Level (AL)
#65 out of 1285 schools
(Top 10%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of Shades Cahaba Elementary School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
57%
29%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Shades Cahaba Elementary School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Alabama by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
77%
47%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Shades Cahaba Elementary School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Alabama by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
55-59%
38%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Shades Cahaba Elementary School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of public schools in Alabama by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
17:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Shades Cahaba Elementary School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Alabama by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
American Indian
n/a
1%
Asian
2%
1%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Shades Cahaba Elementary School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Alabama by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Hispanic
9%
11%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Shades Cahaba Elementary School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Alabama by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Black
10%
32%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Shades Cahaba Elementary School and the percentage of Black public school students in Alabama by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
White
73%
51%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Shades Cahaba Elementary School and the percentage of White public school students in Alabama by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
6%
4%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Shades Cahaba Elementary School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Alabama by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
All Ethnic Groups
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Shades Cahaba Elementary School.
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of public school students of all ethnic groups in Alabama.
0.45
This chart displays the diversity score of Shades Cahaba Elementary School and the public school average diversity score of Alabama by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Yes
Eligible for Free Lunch
23%
56%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Shades Cahaba Elementary School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Alabama by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
3%
5%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Shades Cahaba Elementary School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Alabama by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
School District Name
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AL Dept. of Education

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Shades Cahaba Elementary School's ranking?
Shades Cahaba Elementary School is ranked #65 out of 1,285 schools, which ranks it among the top 10% of public schools in Alabama.
What schools are Shades Cahaba Elementary School often compared to?
Shades Cahaba Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Edgewood Elementary School, Hall Kent Elementary School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
57% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 29% AL state average), while 77% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 47% AL state average).
How many students attend Shades Cahaba Elementary School?
510 students attend Shades Cahaba Elementary School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
73% of Shades Cahaba Elementary School students are White, 10% of students are Black, 9% of students are Hispanic, 6% of students are Two or more races, and 2% of students are Asian.
What is the student:teacher ratio of Shades Cahaba Elementary School?
Shades Cahaba Elementary School has a student ration of 15:1, which is lower than the Alabama state average of 17:1.
What grades does Shades Cahaba Elementary School offer ?
Shades Cahaba Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Kindergarten-5
What school district is Shades Cahaba Elementary School part of?
Shades Cahaba Elementary School is part of Homewood City School District.

School Calendar

View the Shades Cahaba Elementary School yearly calendar below. Note key dates such as:

Event
Date
Spring Break - Schools Closed
March 24, 2025 (Monday)
Spring Break - Schools Closed
March 25, 2025 (Tuesday)
Spring Break - Schools Closed
March 26, 2025 (Wednesday)
Spring Break - Schools Closed
March 27, 2025 (Thursday)
Spring Break - Schools Closed
March 28, 2025 (Friday)

School Reviews

5   10/27/2014
shades cahaba is a great school. you should so go there. it has expos plays and great teachers. I am shouting out to the music teacher.
- Posted by Student/Alumni - pcnor

Review Shades Cahaba Elementary School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:

  • Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
  • Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
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Quick Stats (2025)

  • Grades: Kindergarten-5
  • Enrollment: 510 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 27%
  • : Top 10%
  • : 57% (Top 10%)
  • : 77% (Top 5%)
  • : 55-59% (Top 20%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AL Dept. of Education

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