Summary:
Fort Deposit, Alabama, is served by two public schools within the Lowndes County school district, which together educate 290 students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade, with no high school located within the city itself.
For parents, the educational landscape in Fort Deposit presents a stark contrast between the two schools. Fort Deposit Elementary School (PK-5) is the clear standout, showing remarkable progress. Its state ranking has jumped from the 9th percentile to the 37th percentile in just two years, and its 3rd graders are performing at or above state averages in math (53.1% proficient vs. 44.9% statewide). The school also boasts an exceptional chronic absenteeism rate of just 2.3%, far better than the district (19.0%) and state (12.0%) averages. However, even within this successful school, there is a concerning 5th grade math collapse, with proficiency dropping to just 4.4% from 40.7% in 4th grade. In contrast, Lowndes County Middle School (6-8) is in crisis. Its state ranking has fallen to the 7th percentile, 8th grade math proficiency is at 0%, and chronic absenteeism is a staggering 25.6%—more than double the state average.
The most critical finding is the dramatic academic cliff between these two schools. While 3rd graders achieve 53.1% math proficiency, 6th graders at the middle school plummet to just 8.1%. This suggests a deeply problematic transition or a cumulative learning gap that becomes insurmountable. Interestingly, the middle school actually spends more per student ($14,023 vs. $11,888) and has a better student-teacher ratio (12.2:1 vs. 15.5:1), yet produces far worse outcomes. English proficiency holds up better than math across both schools, with 8th grade English at 42.9% being the middle school's strongest subject. For parents, this data suggests that while the elementary school is building a strong foundation, the middle school years represent a critical challenge that demands immediate attention from district leadership.
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