Summary:
Zip code 35120, covering the communities of Margaret and Odenville in St. Clair County, Alabama, is home to three elementary schools that together serve approximately 1,497 students in grades PK-5 within the St Clair County school district.
For parents comparing schools in this area, Margaret Elementary is the clear standout. It is the only 4-star school in the zip code, and its state ranking has improved dramatically over three years, from 206th to 159th. In 3rd grade math, Margaret's proficiency rate (56.57%) is more than double that of Odenville Intermediate School (24.81%), and it also leads in 4th and 5th grade math. Margaret also excels in English, with 5th grade proficiency at 80.73%, well above the state average of 69.53%. Meanwhile, Odenville Elementary School serves only PK-2 and has no test scores, but its higher per-student spending ($10,948) suggests investment in early learning. Odenville Intermediate, which serves grades 3-5, is the weakest performer, though it does beat Margaret in 4th grade science (66.99% vs. 60.36%) and has surprisingly low chronic absenteeism at just 6.4%.
Key takeaways for families: English proficiency is a consistent strength across all schools, with every grade at or above state averages. However, the math gap between Margaret and Odenville Intermediate is striking—especially the 23-point drop in Odenville's 3rd grade math scores from the prior year. Poverty rates correlate with performance, as Odenville Intermediate has the highest free/reduced lunch rate (59.15%) and lowest scores, while Margaret has the lowest (44.84%) and highest scores. Class sizes are similar across schools, so that doesn't explain the differences. If you're choosing between schools, Margaret Elementary offers the strongest overall academics and upward momentum, while Odenville Intermediate shows modest improvement but remains below district averages in math.
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