Summary:
Zip code 35406 in Tuscaloosa, AL is served by four public schools within the Tuscaloosa City district, offering a complete K-12 pathway for approximately 3,200 students. This area stands out as a pocket of academic excellence within a district that ranks in the 46th percentile statewide, with all four schools outperforming district averages across nearly every subject and grade level.
The elementary schools are the crown jewels of this zip code. Rock Quarry Elementary School is the top performer, earning a 5-star rating and ranking in the 93rd percentile statewide. Its English Language Arts scores are exceptional—91.84% of 3rd graders are proficient, a staggering 27 points above the state average. Verner Elementary School is a strong 4-star alternative that actually surpasses Rock Quarry in 3rd-grade math (65.71% vs. 59.6%) and offers more modest class sizes. Both schools serve relatively affluent populations, with free/reduced lunch rates below 20% and chronic absenteeism under 7%.
The secondary schools show strong but more variable performance. Northridge High School holds a 5-star rating with a 93.5% graduation rate, and its math proficiency (46.61%) is more than double the district average. The school has shown impressive year-over-year improvement across all subjects. Northridge Middle School is the weakest link, though it still beats district averages. The most notable concern is the performance cliff between 5th and 6th grade—math proficiency drops 26 points from Rock Quarry's 5th grade to Northridge Middle's 6th grade. Additionally, chronic absenteeism rises sharply at the secondary level, reaching 16.8% at the high school. Families considering this zip code should weigh the exceptional elementary options against the middle school transition challenge.
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