Summary:
Zip code 35570 is home to one elementary school, Hamilton Elementary School, which serves grades PK through 4 in the Marion County district in Hamilton, Alabama.
Hamilton Elementary School is a standout performer, consistently ranking in the top 10% of all Alabama elementary schools for three straight years, including a 5-star rating and a 43rd place finish out of 680 schools in 2024-2025. The school dramatically outperforms state averages in every subject and grade level. For example, 82.3% of 3rd graders are proficient in math compared to just 44.9% statewide—a 37-point advantage. English proficiency is also strong, with 82.1% of 3rd graders and 78.7% of 4th graders meeting standards, both roughly 18-19 points above the state. Science proficiency for 4th graders sits at 69.4%, also well above the state's 50.2%. The school also outperforms its own district in nearly every metric, with the largest gap in 3rd grade math (+12.2 points).
What makes this achievement particularly notable is that 60.3% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, yet the school still achieves top-tier results. However, chronic absenteeism is a concern at 15.0%, higher than both the district (11.0%) and state (12.0%) averages. Year-over-year, math scores improved in both grades, while 3rd grade English dipped slightly by 4.1 points—a trend worth monitoring. With a student-teacher ratio of 16.5:1 and per-student spending of $9,916, the school appears to use resources efficiently. Overall, Hamilton Elementary School is an exceptional rural school delivering sustained academic excellence despite economic challenges, with math as a clear strength and attendance as the main area for improvement.
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