Summary:
Zip code 35581 is home to just one elementary school, Phil Campbell Elementary School, which serves students in Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade in the Franklin County school district.
Phil Campbell Elementary is a rapidly improving school that has climbed from the 45th percentile to the 66th percentile in Alabama state rankings over the past two years. The school now outperforms state averages in most subjects and grade levels, with particularly impressive results in 6th grade mathematics, where 63.33% of students are proficient—a remarkable 28 points above the state average. English proficiency is also strong, especially in 3rd grade, where 77.55% of students meet standards. The school maintains an exceptionally low chronic absenteeism rate of just 5.8%, less than half the state average of 12%, despite nearly 60% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. This suggests strong family engagement and community support that likely contribute to the school's academic success.
The main area of concern is 5th grade mathematics, where proficiency has dropped to 30.95%—well below both district and state averages, and a significant decline from the previous year. This "5th grade dip" stands in stark contrast to the strong gains seen in 3rd, 4th, and 6th grade math, which all improved substantially year-over-year. The school also shows a slight weakness in 4th grade English, though this appears to be a cohort-specific issue rather than a systemic problem. With a student-teacher ratio of 16.3:1 and per-student spending of $8,612, the school achieves above-average results with modest resources. Overall, Phil Campbell Elementary demonstrates effective instructional practices and strong upward momentum, making it a solid choice for families in the area, with the 5th grade math program being the key area to watch for continued improvement.
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