Summary:
Zip code 35456, covering the Duncanville area of Alabama, is served by two public schools within the Tuscaloosa County district, which together provide education for students from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade. Maxwell Elementary School (PK-5) and Duncanville Middle School (6-8) serve a combined enrollment of nearly 1,000 students, with no high school located within the zip code itself.
For parents, the standout institution here is Duncanville Middle School, which holds a 3-star state rating and ranks in the top half of Alabama middle schools. It consistently outperforms its district averages in English, math, and science, with 8th-grade science proficiency (51.45%) nearly matching the state average. The middle school also posts an excellent chronic absenteeism rate of just 8.9%, well below the state's 12.0%. In contrast, Maxwell Elementary School holds a 2-star rating and has seen its state ranking decline over recent years. While its 5th-grade English scores exceed the state average, math proficiency is a serious concern—only 23.86% of 4th graders meet grade-level standards compared to 42.07% statewide. The elementary school also serves a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students (61.64% free/reduced lunch) than the middle school (48.91%).
One notable dynamic is the "middle school bounce": despite entering with academic gaps, students at Duncanville Middle School find success, beating district averages in nearly every subject. Attendance is a shared strength, with both schools below state chronic absenteeism rates. However, resource allocation raises questions—Maxwell Elementary enjoys a favorable 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio, while the middle school manages a higher 21.9:1 ratio yet achieves better results. Per-student spending is nearly identical (around $8,700). For families, this area offers a solid middle school experience but highlights an urgent need for targeted elementary math interventions to ensure long-term academic success.
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