Summary:
Zip code 35548 in Brilliant, AL, is served by a single school, Brilliant School, a small K-12 alternative school within the Marion County district, which holds a 4-star rating and ranks in the 74th percentile statewide.
For parents, the most striking takeaway is the school’s dramatic split between elementary and secondary performance. In the early grades, Brilliant School is a standout: 3rd grade math proficiency (57.89%) beats the state average (44.89%) by 13 points, and 4th grade science proficiency (81.25%) exceeds the state by a remarkable 31 points. However, this strength collapses by middle and high school. Math proficiency falls from 57.89% in 3rd grade to 0% in 8th grade, and 11th grade math sits at just 13.64%—well below the state’s 27.21%. English follows a similar, though less severe, decline, dropping from 68.42% in 3rd grade to 18.18% in 11th grade. This pattern suggests the school excels at early intervention but struggles to prepare students for increasingly complex coursework.
Despite these academic struggles in upper grades, the school posts a 96% graduation rate, far exceeding the district (91.7%) and state (91.5%) averages. This may reflect strong support systems or alternative pathways for at-risk students. However, chronic absenteeism (13.4%) is higher than both district and state levels, and with 65.12% of students on free/reduced lunch, the school serves a predominantly low-income population. Year-over-year data also shows significant volatility—likely due to small class sizes where a few students can swing percentages by 20 points or more. While the school’s per-student spending ($11,628) is reasonable, the disconnect between strong early grades, a high graduation rate, and near-zero secondary math proficiency is a critical concern that warrants immediate attention.
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