Summary:
Zip code 35466 in Gordo, Alabama, is served by a single elementary school, Gordo Elementary School, which enrolls 545 students in grades PK through 6 within the Pickens County school district.
For parents, the standout feature of Gordo Elementary is its exceptional performance in English Language Arts. In the 2025-2026 school year, proficiency rates were 79.76% in 3rd grade and 82.67% in 5th grade, outpacing state averages by 15 and 13 percentage points, respectively. The school also shines in 4th-grade science, with 61.43% proficiency, well above the state's 50.23%. Another major positive is attendance: the chronic absenteeism rate is just 5.0%, less than half the state average of 12.0%, even though nearly 60% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school consistently outperforms its district in nearly every subject and grade level, making it a clear bright spot within a district ranked in the bottom quartile statewide.
The primary area of concern is mathematics. A persistent 5th-grade slump is evident, with only 21.33% proficiency in 2025-2026, roughly half the rate of other grades at the school. Additionally, 3rd-grade math proficiency dropped sharply from 62.5% to 41.67% year-over-year. These math struggles have driven ranking volatility, with the school moving from 205th to 180th, then down to 248th in the state, despite stable English and science scores. With a student-teacher ratio of 18.3:1 and per-student spending of $7,903, the school achieves strong literacy results with modest resources. Targeted math intervention, especially in 5th grade, could significantly boost its statewide standing and build on its existing strengths.
Thank you for your feedback!