Summary:
Zip code 35543 is home to just one high school, Phillips High School, a small rural school in Bear Creek, Alabama, serving grades 7 through 12 with an enrollment of 200 students.
For parents considering this area, Phillips High School offers a close-knit environment with a 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio, which allows for personalized attention. The school has shown remarkable improvement over the past year, jumping from a state rank of 251 to 190, and posting gains in nearly every subject. Most notably, 8th-grade science proficiency soared from 20% to 70%, and 8th-grade math more than doubled to 33.33%. These middle-grade scores now exceed state averages, as do 8th-grade English scores (70% vs. 58.53% statewide). The school also keeps chronic absenteeism at 10.3%, better than both the district and state averages, suggesting students are engaged and showing up. However, the biggest concern is 11th-grade English, where only 21.43% of students are proficient—well below the Marion County district average of 39.51% and the state's 33.73%. This pattern of strong middle school performance but weaker upper-level results is something to watch, especially as the school works to maintain its upward trajectory.
With 67% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, Phillips High School serves a high-poverty population yet still outperforms the state in several key areas. Per-student spending is $10,836, and the graduation rate sits at 87.5%, slightly below the district and state figures. Given the small cohort sizes—roughly 20-30 students per grade—test scores can fluctuate significantly from year to year, so it's wise to look at trends rather than a single year. Still, the consistent, broad-based improvement across all subjects suggests effective recent interventions. If this momentum continues, the school could climb into the top 100 in Alabama within a few years, making it a promising option for families seeking a small school with clear signs of progress.
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