Summary:
The city of Notasulga, Alabama, is served by three schools across two county districts, offering a mix of traditional and alternative education options for students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Reeltown High School and Reeltown Elementary School operate under the Tallapoosa County district, while Notasulga High School is part of the Macon County district.
For parents, the standout choice is clearly the Reeltown pipeline. Reeltown High School excels in 8th-grade math, with proficiency rates around 50%—nearly double the state average—and boasts a stellar 98.2% graduation rate, well above the state's 91.5%. Its chronic absenteeism rate of 8.8% is also better than the state norm. Meanwhile, Reeltown Elementary School shines in early literacy, with 3rd-grade English proficiency at 84.13%, outpacing both the district and state by nearly 20 points. However, this early advantage fades by middle school, as 6th-grade English at Reeltown High drops to just 38.89%, suggesting a need for continued reading support. In contrast, Notasulga High School faces significant hurdles, with a 78.29% free/reduced lunch rate, a 21.6% chronic absenteeism rate, and proficiency rates mostly below 20% in core subjects. Despite spending the most per student ($13,672), it trails badly, though it did show a remarkable jump in 8th-grade science from 8.7% to 44.44%.
The key takeaway is a tale of two systems. The Reeltown schools prove that rural Alabama can achieve excellence, especially in early literacy and middle-grade math, while Notasulga High's struggles highlight how poverty and absenteeism can undermine even higher funding. For parents, the Reeltown schools offer a more stable and successful path, but the data also points to actionable improvements—like attendance programs and sustained literacy efforts—that could help bridge the gap across all three schools.
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