Summary:
The city of Russellville, Alabama, is served by 7 schools across two districts—Russellville City and Franklin County—covering pre-K through 12th grade and enrolling roughly 4,150 students, with all schools serving significant economically disadvantaged populations (free/reduced lunch rates from 52% to 67%).
The standout performer is Russellville Middle School, which earns a 4-star rating and ranks in the 75th percentile statewide. It posts the strongest test scores in the area—6th grade math proficiency of 55.6% versus a 35.2% state average—and has the lowest chronic absenteeism at 7.1%. By contrast, Tharptown High School is the most struggling school, with a 1-star rating, 11th grade math proficiency of just 5.4% (state: 23.7%), and the highest chronic absenteeism at 13.3%. Russellville High School is a bright spot for graduation, posting a 99% rate—7.5 points above the state—even though its 11th grade English proficiency is only 18.8%. Belgreen High School, despite its "alternative" label, outperforms Tharptown High in most subjects and shows strong year-over-year gains in elementary math.
A clear divide exists between the two districts: Russellville City schools consistently outperform Franklin County schools despite similar poverty levels. For example, Russellville Elementary School and West Elementary School maintain chronic absenteeism below 9%, while Tharptown Elementary School shows a dramatic math decline—4th grade proficiency fell from 57.8% to 16.7% in one year. Notably, science proficiency exceeds English at nearly every school, and Russellville Middle School achieves top results with the lowest per-student spending ($8,997) and a higher student-teacher ratio, suggesting efficiency matters more than raw funding. The biggest red flag is the middle-to-high school transition: students peak academically in middle school, then scores drop sharply by 11th grade, pointing to a need for stronger high school support and attendance interventions.
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