Summary:
Zip code 35619, serving the Danville, Alabama area, includes four schools—Danville-Neel Elementary School, Danville Middle School, Danville High School, and Speake—spanning grades PK-12 across the Morgan County and Lawrence County districts, with a total enrollment of 1,428 students.
The clear standout is Danville-Neel Elementary School, which ranks in the 85th percentile statewide and has improved its ranking for three straight years. Its 4th grade math proficiency (84.34%) is nearly double the state average, and its 3rd grade English scores (82.83%) far exceed the state norm. Danville High School is the most improved school, jumping from the 28th to the 68th percentile in three years, with a 96.5% graduation rate and the lowest chronic absenteeism (7.1%) in the area. In contrast, Speake struggles significantly, ranking in the 41st percentile with the highest poverty rate (67.42% free/reduced lunch) and highest chronic absenteeism (13.1%), though it does outperform state averages in 5th and 6th grade English.
The most pressing concern is the dramatic "middle school slide" at Danville Middle School, where 5th grade math proficiency (59.26%) plummets to just 10.45% by 6th grade—nearly 25 points below the state average. This school also has the lowest per-student spending ($8,068) and highest student-teacher ratio (20.1:1) in the area, suggesting a resource allocation issue. Across the region, chronic absenteeism strongly correlates with performance, with all three Morgan County schools below the state average while Speake exceeds it. Year-over-year test scores show significant volatility, particularly in smaller schools, but the overall picture is one of strong elementary foundations, a challenging middle school transition, and a high school on a promising upward trajectory.
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