Summary:
Zip code 35136 in Rockford, Alabama, is served by two schools within the Coosa County district: Central Elementary School (grades K-6, 397 students) and Central High School (grades 7-12, 354 students). Both schools serve a predominantly low-income population, with roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and the district itself ranks in the bottom 20% of Alabama districts.
Academically, these schools face significant challenges, particularly in math and science. Across nearly every grade and subject, proficiency rates lag state averages by 15 to 40 percentage points. The most glaring weakness is 8th grade science, where only 14% of students are proficient versus 54% statewide. Math proficiency also collapses by 5th grade, dropping to under 8% and remaining in single digits through 8th grade. However, there is one notable bright spot: 5th grade English at Central Elementary School exceeds the state average (72% vs. 70%), the only subject-grade combination to do so. The high school, while also below average, shows a more moderate gap in English and math, and its graduation rate of 87% is below the state's 91.5%.
Comparing the two schools, Central High School spends about 18% more per student ($11,807 vs. $9,996) than the elementary school, yet both struggle with similar academic issues. A sharp year-over-year decline in elementary math scores (e.g., 3rd grade fell from 30% to 12.5% proficiency) warrants immediate investigation, as does the systemic science gap. On a positive note, chronic absenteeism at both schools is below the state average, indicating attendance is not the primary barrier. For parents, this data suggests that while the schools face real hurdles, the 5th grade English success proves improvement is possible with targeted support.
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