Best High Schools in Zip Code 35603

Zip code 35603 in the Decatur, Alabama area is home to two high schools serving grades 9-12: Austin High School and Priceville High School, which together educate about 1,505 students across two different districts.

For parents comparing these two schools, Priceville High School is the clear standout academically. It ranks 34th in Alabama (91st percentile with a 5-star rating) compared to Austin High School's 183rd place (52nd percentile, 3-star rating). Priceville outperforms Austin in every core subject by significant margins—most dramatically in science, where 60.38% of Priceville students are proficient versus just 27.42% at Austin. Priceville is also on an upward trajectory, improving its state ranking from 50th to 40th to 34th over three years, while Austin's path has been volatile, falling from 94th back to 183rd after a brief improvement. Both schools exceed the state graduation average of 91.5%, with Austin at 96.7% and Priceville at 98.3%, though Austin's chronic absenteeism rate of 13.4% is notably higher than both Priceville's 9.5% and the state average of 12.0%.

There are important contextual factors to consider. Austin High School serves a student population where 56.56% qualify for free/reduced lunch, compared to 27.27% at Priceville, and Austin actually spends more per student ($12,464 vs. $10,170) despite lower outcomes. The two schools also belong to different districts—Decatur City ranks 88th in the state while Morgan County ranks 47th—suggesting district-level factors may play a role. While both schools successfully graduate their students, the data reveals a substantial gap in academic preparation, particularly in STEM subjects, with Priceville demonstrating what consistent improvement looks like and Austin facing challenges that warrant attention.