Summary:
Somerville, Alabama, is served by three schools within the Morgan County school district, which ranks in the 66th percentile statewide: one high school and two PK-8 elementary schools, together enrolling about 1,687 students.
For parents, the standout school academically is Union Hill School, which consistently outperforms Cotaco School in most subjects and grade levels, despite receiving less funding per student ($10,115 vs. $12,127). Union Hill also has excellent attendance, with only 7.5% chronic absenteeism compared to Cotaco's 14.5%. However, Union Hill's performance swings dramatically by grade—8th-grade English proficiency is an impressive 81.25%, while 7th-grade math is just 18%. Cotaco, meanwhile, excels in early-grade English, with 3rd-grade proficiency at 73.17% and 5th-grade at 72.73%, both well above Union Hill's scores. The most striking data point is the 6th-grade math gap: Union Hill hit 63.41% proficiency versus Cotaco's 18.75%, a 44.66-point difference that didn't exist the prior year, suggesting a cohort or instructional shift worth investigating.
Albert P Brewer High School is the sole high school and has improved its state ranking from 148th to 129th. Its science proficiency is a clear strength at 45.78%, nearly 10 points above the state average, and it jumped 14.4 points year-over-year. However, math (25.3%) and English (25%) proficiency lag state averages, and the graduation rate of 89.7% falls below both district and state figures. Chronic absenteeism at Brewer High is a concern at 15.8%, well above the district's 9.3%. All three schools serve predominantly low-income families (54-61% free/reduced lunch), yet Union Hill's stronger results despite similar demographics suggest factors beyond poverty drive outcomes. The PK-8 model at both elementary schools shows a notable challenge in 7th and 8th-grade math, where proficiency drops sharply at both schools.
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