Schools in Zip Code 35603

Zip code 35603 in the Decatur, Alabama area is served by 8 schools spanning elementary through high school, split between the Decatur City and Morgan County districts, with a total enrollment of roughly 4,600 students.

Families in this zip code will find a stark contrast between the two districts. The Priceville Elementary School, Priceville Junior High School, and Priceville High School cluster in Morgan County is the clear standout, forming a highly consistent feeder system that ranks in the 90th percentile or higher statewide. Priceville Junior High boasts a 5-star rating with 8th grade math proficiency near 72% (versus a 26% state average) and the lowest chronic absenteeism in the area at 2.5%. Priceville High follows with a 98.3% graduation rate and math proficiency nearly double the state average. In contrast, the Decatur City schools—including Austin High School, Austin Middle School, Chestnut Grove Elementary School, Frances Nungester Elementary School, and Julian Harris Elementary School—generally struggle more, with Austin Middle showing a concerning 57% drop in math proficiency from 6th to 7th grade and Austin High declining from the 75th to 52nd percentile in one year.

Two bright spots emerge within Decatur City. Julian Harris Elementary School is the most improved school in the area, jumping from the 48th to 63rd percentile while posting the lowest chronic absenteeism (1.4%) and strong 4th grade science scores (67.65%). Meanwhile, Chestnut Grove Elementary School offers the most favorable student-teacher ratio at 13.4:1. Notably, Priceville Junior High spends the least per student ($7,526) yet achieves the best results, while Austin High spends the most ($12,464) with mediocre outcomes—suggesting resource allocation matters more than raw funding. For parents, the Priceville cluster offers the strongest academics, while Julian Harris represents the most promising option within Decatur City.