Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 35555

In zip code 35555, there is just one elementary school serving the Fayette, Alabama area: Fayette Elementary School, which enrolls 529 students in grades PK through 4 and is part of the Fayette County district.

For parents considering this school, the most important takeaway is that Fayette Elementary School shows a clear pattern of strong early-grade performance followed by a significant drop in 4th grade, especially in math. In the most recent school year, 3rd graders scored 75.36% proficiency in English (well above the state’s 64.75%) and 50.72% in math (above the state’s 44.89%). However, 4th grade math proficiency plunges to just 28.74%, which is far below both the district (43.75%) and state (42.07%) averages. English also drops to 56.32% in 4th grade, slightly below the state’s 59.53%. On a positive note, 4th grade science is a bright spot at 55.17% proficiency, beating both district and state averages. This “3rd grade peak, 4th grade cliff” suggests the school does an excellent job with early literacy and numeracy, but may need to strengthen its upper-elementary math instruction or provide more support during the transition to 4th grade.

Other key metrics show a school that is improving overall. Its state ranking has climbed from the 34th percentile two years ago to the 55th percentile now, indicating positive momentum. Chronic absenteeism is low at 9.8%, compared to 12% statewide, meaning students are consistently in class. However, the student-teacher ratio of 17.6:1 is on the higher side, which could limit individualized attention, particularly in challenging subjects like 4th grade math. About 60.7% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, yet the school still outperforms state averages in 3rd grade, showing effective early intervention. Per-student spending is $8,958 (from 2018-2019 data), but without more recent figures, it’s hard to judge funding adequacy. Overall, this is a school with clear strengths in early grades and science, but parents should be aware of the math dip in 4th grade and may want to ask about targeted support for that transition.