Summary:
Zip code 35150 in Sylacauga, Alabama, is served by two high schools—Sylacauga High School and BB Comer Memorial High School—which together educate about 1,022 students across grades 7 through 12, with one school operating under the Sylacauga City district and the other under the Talladega County district.
These two schools offer contrasting academic profiles. Sylacauga High School stands out for its strong English proficiency (42.33% vs. 33.73% state average) and a high 94.5% graduation rate, but it lags in math (22.42%) and science (27.27%). In contrast, BB Comer Memorial High School outperforms the state in math (30.16% vs. 27.21%) and nearly matches state science averages, yet struggles significantly in English (25.81%). BB Comer also showed a dramatic one-year improvement, jumping from a 1-star to a 3-star rating, though such volatility may reflect small cohort sizes. Both schools rank in the 62nd percentile statewide, but Sylacauga High has a better student-teacher ratio (15.3:1 vs. 19.6:1) despite spending less per student ($10,937 vs. $12,170).
The most pressing concern for both schools is chronic absenteeism, which runs at 22.3% at Sylacauga High and 19.1% at BB Comer—nearly double the 12.0% state average. This issue affects even Sylacauga High, which has a lower poverty rate (49.92% free/reduced lunch) than BB Comer (64.81%). Additionally, BB Comer's middle school math scores are alarmingly low (6.38% proficiency in 8th grade vs. 26.36% state), suggesting early gaps that may impact later high school performance. For parents, the choice comes down to priorities: Sylacauga High offers stronger English instruction and graduation outcomes, while BB Comer shows promise in math and science, though both schools face significant attendance and STEM challenges that warrant attention.
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