Schools in Zip Code 35550

Zip code 35550 in Cordova, Alabama, is served by three public schools within the Walker County district, offering a complete K-12 pathway for roughly 1,070 students across Cordova Elementary School (K-4), Bankhead Middle School (5-8), and Cordova High School (9-12).

Bankhead Middle School is the clear standout, having climbed from the 123rd to the 63rd position in state rankings over two years while maintaining a 4-star rating. It posts exceptional results in 6th grade math (56% proficient, 21 points above the state) and 8th grade science (75% proficient, also 21 points above the state), and its chronic absenteeism rate of just 5.3% is less than half the state average. However, a dramatic 35-point drop in 5th grade math proficiency (from 53% to 18%) is a red flag worth investigating. Cordova Elementary School remains a strong performer despite slipping from a 5-star to a 3-star rating; it still exceeds state averages in most subjects, particularly 4th grade science (68% proficient, 18 points above the state), even though it has the highest economic need in the cluster (60% free/reduced lunch).

Cordova High School is the primary concern. Its rankings swing wildly (194th to 63rd to 160th in three years), and it falls below state averages in math and science. Chronic absenteeism is a major issue at 22%—double the district rate—and its graduation rate of 84.3% trails the district (93%) and state (91.5%). The overall pattern shows strong elementary and middle school performance that drops off sharply in high school, suggesting the transition to 9th grade is a critical breaking point. While the district ranks in the bottom half of Alabama, these Cordova schools are relative bright spots, with Bankhead Middle offering a model of steady improvement that the other schools could learn from.