Summary:
The city of Cordova, Alabama, is served by a compact three-school system within the Walker County district, educating approximately 1,070 students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The schools include Cordova Elementary School (K-4), Bankhead Middle School (5-8), and Cordova High School (9-12).
Bankhead Middle School is the clear academic standout, earning 4-star ratings for three straight years and climbing from the 72nd to the 86th percentile in state rankings. It posts exceptional results in 8th grade science (75% proficient vs. 54% statewide) and 6th grade English and math, while also having the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the district at just 5.3%. In contrast, Cordova High School faces the biggest challenges: a 22% chronic absenteeism rate (double the district average), a graduation rate of 84.3% (well below the 91.5% state average), and weak math proficiency at just 20%. Cordova Elementary School performs above state averages in English and science but shows volatility, dropping from a 5-star to a 3-star rating over two years.
A notable pattern emerges in math: 4th graders at the elementary school score above the state average, but 5th graders at the middle school plummet to just 17.65% proficiency before rebounding to 56% by 6th grade, suggesting a difficult transition year. The high school receives the most per-student funding yet produces the weakest outcomes, while the middle school achieves the best results with the lowest economic disadvantage rate (44.3% free/reduced lunch). Overall, the district's 2-star rating masks wide internal variation—the middle school excels, the elementary school is solid but inconsistent, and the high school struggles with attendance and achievement, indicating that school-specific interventions would be more effective than district-wide solutions.
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