Schools in Zip Code 35042

Zip code 35042 in Centreville, Alabama, is served by two public schools within the Bibb County district, together educating roughly 868 students across grades 5 through 12 in a community where about 60% of families qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Centreville Middle School (grades 5-8, 440 students) shows a notable split in academic performance. Its 8th grade science proficiency (45.45%) is a clear strength, while English scores alternate dramatically by grade—5th and 7th graders hit 51% and 56.4% proficiency, but 6th and 8th graders drop to 33% and 35.5%. The most alarming figure is 6th grade math at just 9% proficiency, a steep cliff from 5th grade's 25% and a massive 18-point drop from the prior year. Meanwhile, Bibb County High School (grades 9-12, 428 students) has shown consistent improvement, climbing from the 30th to 35th percentile in state rankings over three years. Its math proficiency more than doubled in one year (9.7% to 21%), though 11th grade English remains critically weak at 16.9%—less than half the state average. The high school also spends significantly more per student ($10,534 vs. $7,885) and has a slightly better student-teacher ratio (16.4:1 vs. 18.3:1).

Both schools face a systemic challenge with chronic absenteeism, hovering around 20%—nearly double the state's 12% rate. The high school's graduation rate (87.9%) trails both the district (90%) and state (91.5%). Despite these hurdles, both schools are on upward trajectories in state rankings, and the middle school's science program stands out as a potential model for improvement in other subjects. For parents, the key takeaway is that while overall performance trails state averages, there are pockets of strength and clear momentum, particularly at the high school level.