Summary:
Zip code 35466 is home to a single high school, Gordo High School, which serves grades 7 through 12 and enrolls 473 students in the Pickens County district.
As the only high school in this area, Gordo High School is the sole educational option for local families, and it shows a promising upward trend. The school has climbed from the 24th percentile in Alabama state rankings (2023-2024) to the 40th percentile (2025-2026), a jump of 59 positions. This improvement is highlighted by a dramatic doubling of 11th-grade math proficiency, from 8.86% to 18.84% in just one year. The school also maintains a strong 92% graduation rate, which exceeds the state average of 91.5%. However, a notable pattern emerges when comparing grade levels: 7th and 8th graders significantly outperform 11th graders in English and Science. For example, 7th-grade English proficiency is 57.35% versus just 26.09% for 11th graders—a 31-point gap. This suggests the school may be losing academic momentum as students progress through high school.
Gordo High School consistently outperforms its district averages across nearly all subjects and grade levels, often by wide margins, such as in 8th-grade English (58.14% vs. the district's 47.31%). Yet, it still trails state averages in most categories, particularly in mathematics. The school serves a majority low-income population, with 53.28% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and it operates with a high student-to-teacher ratio of 21.8:1, which may limit individualized attention. Chronic absenteeism sits at 11.9%, slightly below the state average but above the district's 10.1%. Despite these challenges, the school's strong graduation rate and recent academic gains indicate a positive trajectory, making it a solid choice for families seeking a community-focused school with demonstrated improvement.
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