Best Public Schools in Zip Code 35634

Zip code 35634 in Florence, Alabama, is served by four schools within the Lauderdale County district, including two elementary schools (Rogers Elementary School and Wilson Elementary School) and two high schools (Rogers High School and Wilson High School), serving a total of 2,239 students in grades PK-12.

For parents, the standout school in this area is Wilson Elementary School, which has shown remarkable improvement, climbing nearly 200 spots in state rankings over two years to reach the 67th percentile. Its 4th grade math proficiency (64.4%) is exceptional, outpacing the state average by more than 22 points, and its English scores consistently meet or exceed state averages. In contrast, Rogers Elementary School lags behind, particularly in math where proficiency drops to 23.5% in 5th grade. At the high school level, Wilson High School offers the best graduation rate (98%) but has inconsistent rankings, while Rogers High School struggles most, with only 14.3% of 11th graders proficient in math—roughly half the state average—despite having the lowest poverty rate in the zip code.

A critical concern across all four schools is chronic absenteeism, which runs at roughly double the state average of 12%, with Rogers High School the worst at 30%. There is also a clear performance cliff: elementary students often meet or exceed state averages, but by 11th grade, both high schools fall well below state benchmarks in math and English. Science is a relative bright spot, with 8th grade scores near state averages. Notably, Wilson High School spends $605 less per student than Rogers High School yet achieves better outcomes, raising questions about resource efficiency. The feeder pattern also creates an equity issue: students zoned for Wilson Elementary receive a stronger foundation than those attending Rogers Elementary, which feeds into the weaker high school.