Summary:
The 35203 zip code in Birmingham, Alabama is home to a single standout elementary school, Phillips Academy, which serves grades PK-8 with a total enrollment of 631 students. Despite being part of the low-performing Birmingham City school district, Phillips Academy consistently ranks in the top 25% of Alabama elementary schools and has maintained a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger for the past two school years.
Phillips Academy students outperform their peers in the district and the state on standardized tests, with 76.79% of 5th-grade students proficient or better in Mathematics compared to just 21.53% in the district and 39.31% statewide. The school also has a lower chronic absenteeism rate of 14.8% compared to the district average of 26.51% and the state average of 45.47%. Additionally, Phillips Academy spends $10,154 per student, which is higher than the national average, and has a student-teacher ratio of 18:1, lower than the national average of 16:1.
Despite serving a population with a relatively high level of economic disadvantage, with 57.69% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, Phillips Academy's strong academic performance and consistent high rankings suggest that the school may have effective teaching practices, curriculum, or other factors that contribute to its success. Further investigation into the school's practices and resources could provide valuable insights for improving educational outcomes in similar low-performing districts.
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