Schools in Zip Code 35549

Zip code 35549 in Carbon Hill, AL, is served by two schools in the Walker County district, which together educate 824 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

Carbon Hill Elementary/Junior High School is the clear standout in this area, having climbed an impressive 121 spots in state rankings over the past two years to reach the 64th percentile. Its 4th grade class is exceptional, with science proficiency at 79.49% (29 points above the state average), English at 82.5%, and math at 53.85%. The school also shows a strong upward trajectory in 4th grade across all subjects, including a remarkable 49.7-point jump in science proficiency in a single year. However, the school exhibits a noticeable "middle school slump," with 7th grade being the weakest point in both math (19.64%) and English (48.21%). Despite serving a student population where nearly 59% qualify for free/reduced lunch, this school is outperforming expectations and improving rapidly.

Carbon Hill High School presents a more mixed picture. While it improved its state ranking by 52 positions in the most recent year (now in the 38th percentile), it still lags significantly behind the elementary school in academic performance. The high school's 11th grade math proficiency is just 10.17%, though English proficiency more than doubled to 35.71%—now exceeding the state average. Its graduation rate of 96.3% is excellent, surpassing both district and state averages. The most pressing concern is chronic absenteeism, with 25% of high school students chronically absent—more than double the district and state averages. This likely contributes to the academic struggles, creating a paradox where students graduate at high rates despite low test scores. Overall, families should note the elementary school's strong momentum versus the high school's persistent challenges, particularly around attendance and math achievement.