Empower Community School

Summary:

Empower Community School is a public charter elementary school in Bessemer, Alabama, serving 139 students in grades K-7. The school has a predominantly African American student population, with 85.61% of students identifying as African American.

Empower Community School faces significant academic challenges, with student performance well below the state average across multiple subject areas and grade levels. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, only 6.67% of 3rd-grade students were proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to the state average of 42.16%. The school's performance in English Language Arts is also below the state average, with only 53.33% of 3rd-grade students and 17.78% of 6th-grade students being proficient or better. Empower Community School ranks 606 out of 684 Alabama elementary schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger, placing it in the bottom 10% of elementary schools in the state.

When comparing Empower Community School to nearby schools, such as Lipscomb Elementary School, it becomes evident that the academic performance at Empower is significantly lower. Additionally, the high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds at Empower Community School, with 64.03% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, is a significant factor that likely contributes to the school's academic challenges. This highlights the need for targeted interventions and support to address the unique needs of this student population.

Detail:

Public, Charter K-7

751A Academy Drive
Bessemer, AL 35020

(205) 413-8600

District: Empower Community School

SchoolDigger Rank:
606^th of 684 Alabama Elementary Schools

Student/teacher ratio: n/a

Number of students: 139

Racial breakdown:

African American:

85.6%

Hispanic:

12.2%

White:

2.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 64%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Empower Community School ranks worse than 88.6% of elementary schools in Alabama. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 12.59. (See more...)

Compare Details Empower Community School ranks worse than 91.4% of middle schools in Alabama. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 11.38. (See more...)

Student Body

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Teachers

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Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Empower Community School:

SchoolDigger ranks Empower Community School 606^th of 684 Alabama public elementary schools. (See Empower Community School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

SchoolDigger ranks Empower Community School 404^th of 442 Alabama public middle schools. (See Empower Community School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

Empower Community School:

SchoolDigger ranks Empower Community School 127^th of 137 Alabama school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Empower Community School

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Empower Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	12.59	606^th	684	11.4%

See the entire list of Alabama Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Empower Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	15.03	597^th	670	10.9%

See the entire list of Best Alabama Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Empower Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	11.65	610^th	650	6.2%

See the entire list of Best Alabama Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Empower Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	15.23	563^rd	655	14.0%

See the entire list of Best Alabama Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for elementary school African American students at Empower Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	20.88	374^th	420	11.0%

See the entire list of Best Alabama Elementary Schools for African American Students!

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

Rank History for Empower Community School

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Rank History for all middle school students at Empower Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	AL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	11.38	404^th	442	8.6%

See the entire list of Alabama Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Empower Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	AL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	13.07	402^nd	437	8.0%

See the entire list of Best Alabama Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Empower Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	AL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	11.54	391^st	426	8.2%

See the entire list of Best Alabama Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Empower Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	AL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	9.27	416^th	428	2.8%

See the entire list of Best Alabama Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school African American students at Empower Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	AL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	20.64	245^th	269	8.9%

See the entire list of Best Alabama Elementary Schools for African 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.

Data source: Alabama State Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Empower Community School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2022	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2023	3	119	0	17	0	0	0	0	139

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 Empower Community School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2022	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
2023	139	n/a	n/a	64

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 Empower Community School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2022	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
2023	139	n/a	n/a	64

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.

Schools Near Empower Community School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Summative Assessment Mathematics (2024)						Summative Assessment Science (2024)		Summative Assessment English (2024)						Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Summative Assessment Mathematics 3rd Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 4th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 5th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 4th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 8th Grade	Summative Assessment English 3rd Grade	Summative Assessment English 4th Grade	Summative Assessment English 5th Grade	Summative Assessment English 6th Grade	Summative Assessment English 7th Grade	Summative Assessment English 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Empower Community School	Public, Charter	K-7	751A Academy Drive	Bessemer	35020	Jefferson County	Empower Community School	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(205) 413-8600	139			64.0%	3 (2.2%)	119 (85.6%)	17 (12.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12.6	606^th of 684 public elementary schools	11.4%					(n/a)	6.7			0.0	0.0	0.0		10.0	53.3			17.8	22.7	40.0
Abrams Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1200 23rd Street North	Bessemer	35020	Jefferson County	Bessemer City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 432-3100	254	12	21.1	77.6%	1 (0.4%)	210 (82.7%)	38 (15.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.0%)	17.8	565^th of 684 public elementary schools	17.4%		15.7	572^nd of 680 public elementary schools	15.9%	7	26.5	11.5	12.1				23.1		38.7	33.3	48.4				$13,401	$3,480	$9,906
Charles F Hard Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2801 Arlington Ave	Bessemer	35020	Jefferson County	Bessemer City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 432-3300	342	20	17.1	85.7%	2 (0.6%)	310 (90.6%)	15 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.4%)	5.8	674^th of 684 public elementary schools	1.5%		10	631^st of 680 public elementary schools	7.2%	43	4.2	0.0	12.5				9.4		25.0	18.9	27.5				$11,340	$1,980	$9,345
Lipscomb Elementary School	Public	K-5	5605 10th St S	Lipscomb	35020	Jefferson County	Jefferson County	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 379-4550	259	14	19.1	95.8%	17 (6.6%)	104 (40.2%)	132 (51.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.5%)	58.2	283^rd of 684 public elementary schools	58.6%		38.7	427^th of 680 public elementary schools	37.2%	144	50.0	54.3	20.4				45.7		65.0	65.7	54.6				$12,868	$2,844	$9,983
Brighton School	Public	PK, KG-8	3400 Brown Cir	Brighton	35020	Jefferson County	Jefferson County	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 379-2650	365	19	19.7	88.8%	11 (3.0%)	198 (54.2%)	148 (40.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.6%)	17.8	566^th of 684 public elementary schools	17.3%		19.2	545^th of 680 public elementary schools	19.9%	21	27.7	17.0	27.1	13.0			11.8		38.6	26.5	41.9	29.4			$10,820	$2,114	$8,677
Jonesboro Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	125 Owen Ave	Bessemer	35020	Jefferson County	Bessemer City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 432-3400	525	30	17.5	78.5%	12 (2.3%)	379 (72.2%)	121 (23.0%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.7%)	10.8	633^rd of 684 public elementary schools	7.5%		11.5	616^th of 680 public elementary schools	9.4%	17	16.2	10.8	3.8				24.1		34.4	33.3	20.8				$10,734	$2,973	$7,745
Westhills Elementary School	Public	K-5	710 Glenn Rd	Bessemer	35022	Jefferson County	Bessemer City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 432-3500	315	14	22.5	74.9%	10 (3.2%)	276 (87.6%)	25 (7.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.3%)	11.4	623^rd of 684 public elementary schools	8.9%		11.2	622^nd of 680 public elementary schools	8.5%	1	2.1	14.6	7.4				12.2		33.3	24.5	50.0				$14,067	$2,370	$11,681
Hueytown Intermediate School	Public	3-5	1950 Intermediate School Road	Hueytown	35023	Jefferson County	Jefferson County	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 379-4100	481	28	17.4	62.8%	134 (27.9%)	286 (59.5%)	59 (12.3%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21.7	536^th of 684 public elementary schools	21.6%		25.6	506^th of 680 public elementary schools	25.6%	30	22.8	25.3	16.6				21.7		52.4	29.5	43.8				$8,544	$1,354	$7,171
Hueytown Primary School	Public	PK, KG-2	1921 Primary School Drive	Hueytown	35023	Jefferson County	Jefferson County	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 379-4950	653	35	18.8	64.5%	186 (28.5%)	362 (55.4%)	80 (12.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (3.7%)								(n/a)															$10,289	$2,195	$8,064
Glen Oaks Elementary School	Public	3-5	1301 Highland Dr	Fairfield	35064	Jefferson County	Fairfield City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 783-6837	324	15	20.9	69.8%	0 (0.0%)	309 (95.4%)	13 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	11.1	629^th of 684 public elementary schools	8.0%		10.6	624^th of 680 public elementary schools	8.2%	5	24.3	6.1	10.1				12.1		41.7	26.3	27.6				$9,867	$1,722	$8,027

Frequently Asked Questions about Empower Community School

Is Empower Community School a good school?

Empower Community School ranks in the bottom 11.4% of Alabama elementary schools.

How many students attend Empower Community School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 139 students attended Empower Community School.

What is the racial makeup of Empower Community School?

Students at Empower Community School are 86% African American, 12% Hispanic, 2% White.

What district is Empower Community School in?

Empower Community 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.