Schools in Zip Code 35055

Zip code 35055 in Cullman, Alabama, is served by 6 schools—4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school—spanning the Cullman City and Cullman County districts, with a total enrollment of roughly 3,461 students.

The Cullman City district is a standout, ranking 8th out of 139 districts statewide (94th percentile) with a 5-star rating. Within this district, East Elementary School is the top performer, ranking 30th in Alabama with exceptional 5th-grade proficiency rates (87% math, 96.3% English) and very low chronic absenteeism at 5.4%. Cullman Middle School is a hidden gem, ranking 9th among middle schools with 86.4% science proficiency and the lowest absenteeism in the zip code at 4.2%. Cullman High School has shown remarkable improvement, jumping from 50th to 12th in state rankings with a 96.8% graduation rate. In contrast, West Elementary School ranks 92nd, with lower proficiency rates and higher absenteeism (12%) than East. Cullman City Primary School serves the youngest students and performs solidly above state averages.

The only county school, Welti Elementary School, lags significantly behind its city counterparts, ranking 295th with the highest chronic absenteeism (13.8%) and lowest test scores despite receiving the highest per-student funding ($13,004). This highlights a clear city-versus-county divide. Notably, East Elementary achieves the best results while spending the least per student ($7,870), suggesting strong efficiency. Socioeconomic factors appear influential, as schools with lower free/reduced lunch rates (East at 32.2%, Cullman Middle at 31.2%) outperform those with higher rates (West at 44.7%, Welti at 45.0%). Overall, this area offers an excellent educational pipeline, with the Cullman City schools providing consistently strong options from primary through high school.