Best Public Schools in Zip Code 35501

The five schools in the Jasper City district serving zip code 35501 in Jasper, Alabama, educate roughly 2,950 students across a unique grade configuration that splits elementary into two schools (PK-1 and 2-3) before moving through intermediate, junior high, and high school levels.

For parents, the standout choice is Memorial Park Elementary School, which earns a 5-star rating and ranks in the 97th percentile statewide—despite having the district's highest poverty rate (54.66% free/reduced lunch) and largest class sizes (19.6:1 student-teacher ratio). This school dramatically outperforms expectations. Maddox Intermediate School also impresses, particularly in 4th grade where math proficiency (58.9%) exceeds the state by nearly 17 points, though it shows a concerning "fifth grade slump" where students fall below state averages in both math and English. Jasper Junior High School offers consistent 4-star performance, maintaining its 85th percentile ranking for two straight years. The district's biggest concern is Jasper High School, which dropped from the 89th to 77th percentile in one year and shows a dramatic proficiency cliff—11th graders score 25-30 points below junior high students in English and science. The high school also has the highest chronic absenteeism (19.6%) despite the lowest poverty rate, and spends nearly double per student ($12,720) compared to the junior high ($6,596) with declining results.

District-wide, English/Language Arts proficiency consistently exceeds state averages at every grade level, suggesting a strong literacy focus. The graduation rate is solid at 93.8%, exceeding the state average. However, the transition to high school represents the district's most critical challenge, with declining rankings, high absenteeism, and significant proficiency drops. T R Simmons Elementary School (PK-1) has no test data available, leaving early learning outcomes unassessed. Overall, families can expect excellent elementary and middle school options, but should investigate high school programs carefully.