Summary:
Zip code 35096 is home to just one elementary school, Lincoln Elementary School, which serves grades PK-5 and is part of the Talladega County district.
For parents considering this area, Lincoln Elementary School is a large school with 902 students and a student-teacher ratio of 18.4:1, which is on the higher side and may mean less individualized attention. The school has seen a significant decline in its state ranking over the past two years, dropping from the 67th percentile (3 stars) to the 40th percentile (2 stars). A key strength is attendance: the chronic absenteeism rate of 10.3% is better than both the district (12.4%) and state (12.0%) averages, showing that students are consistently showing up to class. However, the school serves a high-need population, with over half of students (50.55%) qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
Academically, the picture is mixed. English Language Arts scores are a relative bright spot, with 3rd and 5th grade proficiency near or above state averages, though 4th grade lags. The most concerning area is STEM: math proficiency is below state averages at every grade level, with 4th grade particularly low at 29.17% compared to the state's 42.07%. Science is the biggest weakness, with only 29.86% of 4th graders proficient versus 50.23% statewide—a gap of over 20 points. This disparity between English and math/science suggests a need for targeted intervention in STEM subjects. The data also hints at a possible lingering "COVID slide" effect, as the current 4th grade cohort shows sharp drops in math and science scores, likely reflecting disrupted foundational learning during the pandemic. While the school faces challenges related to poverty and class size, its strong attendance and near-average English scores show resilience, but the math and science gaps are critical areas for improvement.
Thank you for your feedback!