Summary:
Zip code 35619, encompassing the Danville area of northern Alabama, is home to two elementary schools—DanvilleNeel Elementary School and Speake—that serve students from pre-kindergarten through grades 4 and 6, respectively, and belong to two different county districts.
For parents, the standout choice in this area is clearly DanvilleNeel Elementary School, which ranks in the 85th percentile statewide and has earned a consistent 4-star rating. It dramatically outperforms Speake in mathematics—for example, 84% of DanvilleNeel 4th graders are proficient in math versus just 27% at Speake—and also exceeds state averages in English and science. DanvilleNeel achieves these results despite a larger student-teacher ratio and lower per-student spending than Speake, indicating strong resource efficiency. Its district, Morgan County, ranks in the 66th percentile statewide, and the school has shown steady improvement in its state ranking over the past two years.
In contrast, Speake faces more significant challenges, ranking in the 41st percentile with a 1-star district rating from Lawrence County. It serves a more economically disadvantaged population (67% free/reduced lunch) and has higher chronic absenteeism (13.1%), which correlates with its lower overall performance. However, Speake shows a notable strength in English language arts, with 5th and 6th grade proficiency rates exceeding state averages. The most pressing concern is the wide math achievement gap between the two schools, making mathematics the critical area for intervention at Speake. While DanvilleNeel is the clear academic leader, Speake’s literacy strengths offer a foundation for potential improvement.
Thank you for your feedback!