Summary:
Zip code 35475 in Northport, AL is served by 6 schools within the Tuscaloosa County district, covering elementary through high school grades and enrolling roughly 3,320 students.
This area presents a clear contrast in academic performance. Northside High School is the standout, ranked 29th in the state with a 98.8% graduation rate and test scores far exceeding state averages (44% math proficiency vs. 27.2% statewide). It has shown dramatic improvement over two years. In contrast, Tuscaloosa County High School, the area's largest school, struggles with a 20.1% chronic absenteeism rate and the lowest test scores (19% math proficiency). At the elementary level, Huntington Place Elementary School is a consistent top-quartile performer with strong math scores (57.8% proficiency), while Walker Elementary School also shows solid English scores but a concerning decline in 3rd grade math. Northport Elementary School and Northport Intermediate School both have excellent attendance rates (under 4% absenteeism) and strong English performance, though math scores are more moderate.
The most striking pattern is the "achievement cliff" between elementary and high school. While all elementary schools have chronic absenteeism rates well below the state average (3.3% to 7.5%), both high schools exceed it dramatically (17.5% and 20.1%). This spike in absenteeism likely contributes to the performance gap. Notably, Huntington Place Elementary School achieves top results with the lowest per-student spending, while Tuscaloosa County High School spends more yet underperforms. The area also lacks a traditional middle school, requiring students to transition through four different schools before high school. For parents, the key takeaway is that Northside High School offers a proven path to success, while the feeder pattern into Tuscaloosa County High School warrants closer attention to attendance and academic support.
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