Summary:
The city of Dora, Alabama, is served by three public schools—Bagley Elementary School (PK-4), Corner High School (9-12), and Dora High School (9-12)—with no middle school within city limits, creating a notable gap for grades 5-8. The two high schools belong to different county districts—Jefferson County for Corner High and Walker County for Dora High—which means students in the same city may experience very different resources and oversight.
Corner High School is the clear academic leader, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 81st percentile statewide. Its proficiency rates in math (32.69%), science (42.31%), and English (43.27%) all exceed state averages, and it has shown steady improvement over recent years. In contrast, Dora High School struggles significantly, with a 1-star rating and only 7.27% of 11th graders proficient in math—a 25-point gap compared to Corner High. Bagley Elementary School provides a strong foundation, with 3rd-grade English proficiency at 72.12% and 4th-grade math at 60%, both well above state averages. Interestingly, both high schools boast graduation rates above the state average (Dora High at 98.1%, Corner High at 97.7%), and Dora High actually has better attendance (9.4% chronic absenteeism vs. 16.3% at Corner High).
The most striking takeaway is the socioeconomic disparity: Dora High has a 61.34% free/reduced lunch rate, nearly double that of Corner High (32.93%) and Bagley Elementary (32.36%). Per-student spending also varies, with Corner High at $11,239, Dora High at $9,590, and Bagley at $8,971. The absence of a local middle school may disrupt the educational pipeline, and Dora High's recent 31-point percentile drop (from 57th to 26th) signals instability. While Corner High is on an upward trajectory, Dora High appears to need targeted interventions, particularly in math, to close the achievement gap within this small community.
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