Summary:
Zip code 35586 is served by a single school, Sulligent School, a comprehensive Pre-K through 12th grade institution in the Lamar County district, enrolling 684 students in a rural Alabama community where 54% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Sulligent School shows a clear split between subjects. In elementary English, the school excels—5th grade proficiency hit 89% and 3rd grade hit 75%, both well above state averages. However, mathematics tells a different story, especially in middle school. Proficiency drops dramatically from 57% in 5th grade to just 10% in 8th grade, a 47-point decline that far exceeds typical state patterns. The school also struggles with chronic absenteeism at 22%, nearly double the state rate of 12%, which likely contributes to a graduation rate of 87.5% that trails both the district (93.9%) and state (91.5%). Year-to-year scores are volatile, particularly in 11th grade where math proficiency fell from 27% to 12% and English dropped from 41% to 26% between recent school years.
For parents, the key takeaway is that Sulligent School offers strong early literacy instruction but faces significant challenges in upper-grade mathematics. The middle school math decline suggests students may need extra support or tutoring as they advance. The high absenteeism rate is a red flag—ensuring consistent attendance is critical, as missing school directly impacts achievement. Despite economic disadvantages, the school proves it can deliver above-average results in early grades, so the foundation is there. However, the volatility in test scores and the graduation rate gap indicate that families should stay actively engaged, monitor progress closely, and advocate for targeted math interventions and attendance initiatives to help students succeed through high school.
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