Summary:
Zip code 35592, serving the Vernon, Alabama area, contains two schools within the Lamar County district, together educating roughly 821 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
For parents, the standout choice for early education is Vernon Elementary School, which serves grades PK-3 and delivers exceptional results. In 3rd grade math, the school posted a 69.09% proficiency rate versus the state's 44.89%, and in English, 80% proficiency compared to the state's 64.75%. This school also benefits from a lower student-teacher ratio (14.1:1) and higher per-student spending ($9,891) than its counterpart. Meanwhile, Lamar County HighIntermediate, an alternative school covering grades 4-12, shows a dramatic split: 4th graders excel (81.25% math proficiency vs. 42.07% state), but by 11th grade, proficiency plummets to 21.54% in math and 35.94% in English—both near or below state averages. The school does show strong year-over-year improvement at the 11th grade level, nearly doubling math scores and jumping English from 20.34% to 35.94%.
Notably, the district boasts a 98.5% graduation rate, well above the state's 91.5%, yet this success contrasts sharply with low upper-grade test scores, suggesting a possible focus on graduation pathways over rigorous academics. Chronic absenteeism is a concern at both schools (15.1% and 13.9%, both above the state's 12.0%). An unusual finding is that 8th grade science proficiency (67.86%) far exceeds math (32.14%), indicating a potential weakness in math instruction. Overall, parents should expect outstanding early elementary education but should be prepared for significant academic challenges as students progress through the upper grades at Lamar County HighIntermediate.
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