Summary:
Zip code 35563 in Guin, Alabama, is served by two public schools within the Marion County district, which together educate 531 students across grades PK-12.
For parents, the standout in this area is Guin Elementary School, which consistently ranks among the top 10-15% of elementary schools in Alabama, earning 4- and 5-star ratings. Despite over half its students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, the school outperforms state averages by 20-40 percentage points in math and English. However, its most recent scores show a concerning dip, particularly in 4th grade English (down 21.7 points) and 6th grade math (down 17.3 points). Meanwhile, Marion County High School has undergone a dramatic turnaround, jumping from the 29th to the 84th percentile in state rankings over two years. Its 11th grade English proficiency soared by 25 points, and 8th grade science improved by 31 points. The high school also boasts a stellar 94.1% graduation rate and an exceptionally low chronic absenteeism rate of just 3.5%, far better than state averages.
The biggest challenge in this community is the transition between schools. While elementary students arrive with strong foundations, math proficiency plummets to just 18-28% in 7th and 8th grades. This "leaky pipeline" suggests the middle school years need targeted support. Both schools achieve these results with modest per-student spending ($9,040-$10,376), indicating efficient resource use. The district itself ranks in the top quarter of Alabama, but its overall performance masks this significant elementary-to-secondary gap. For parents, this means your child will likely thrive in the early grades, but you should be prepared to advocate for additional math support as they enter middle school.
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