Summary:
Zip code 35010, serving Alexander City, Alabama, is home to 5 schools within the Alexander City district, covering grades 3 through 12 and enrolling roughly 2,836 students, with a predominantly low-income population as reflected in free/reduced lunch rates between 58% and 73%.
For parents, the standout school in this area is William L Radney Elementary School (grades 5-6), which posts the district’s best results—especially in 6th grade math (48.42% proficient, 13 points above the state average) and 6th grade English (64.74%, 8 points above state)—all while spending the least per student ($8,419). In contrast, Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School (grades 3-4) struggles most, with 3rd grade math proficiency at just 26.55% (18 points below state) and the highest student-teacher ratio (21.8:1), though it does beat the state in 3rd grade English. Alexander City Middle School (grades 7-8) is the district’s improver, showing strong gains in 7th grade math (31.28%, now 6.8 points above state) and 8th grade science (47.26%), despite having the highest poverty rate (72.79%). Benjamin Russell High School is the biggest concern, with 11th grade math at 16.98% (10 points below state) and a ranking that has dropped 104 spots in two years, while Jim Pearson Elementary School sits in the middle with no standout scores but low chronic absenteeism (6.6%).
Key takeaways: the district shows a “middle school sweet spot” where students beat state averages in math by 6th-7th grade, but that momentum is lost by high school. Chronic absenteeism nearly doubles from elementary (~6.5%) to secondary (~11.7%), and the district’s graduation rate (88.8%) trails the state (91.5%). Despite high poverty, middle schools prove that effective instruction can overcome socioeconomic challenges, making Radney’s efficiency and Stephens’ literacy program worth studying for replication.
Thank you for your feedback!