Summary:
Zip code 35581 in Phil Campbell, Alabama, is served by three schools within the Franklin County district, educating roughly 1,035 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, with a significant portion of families facing economic challenges.
For parents, the standout performer is Phil Campbell High School, which has made a remarkable leap from the 48th to the 70th percentile in just two years. It boasts a 90% graduation rate and strong 8th-grade science scores that beat the state average. Meanwhile, Phil Campbell Elementary School shows exceptional early-grade results, with 3rd-grade math proficiency 18 points above the state, but its overall ranking has slipped, and 5th-grade math drops sharply to just 31%. The hidden gem is East Franklin Junior High School, an alternative school that outperforms both the district and state in most subjects, including an extraordinary 94% proficiency in 8th-grade English—36 points above the state average.
Across the board, upper-grade math remains the weakest subject, with high school 11th-grade math proficiency hovering near the state average. However, Phil Campbell Elementary School has a remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of 5.8%, less than half the state average, indicating strong community engagement. While all three schools serve student bodies where 50-60% qualify for free or reduced lunch, they prove that economic disadvantage does not dictate outcomes. Notably, East Franklin Junior High School spends the most per student ($11,191) and shows the strongest results, while the elementary school spends the least ($8,612) and shows more inconsistent performance. Together, these schools form a cohesive pipeline, with strong middle-grade instruction but a clear need for continued support in high school math.
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