Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 35646

Zip code 35646 in Leighton, Alabama, is home to two elementary schools—Leighton Elementary School and Hatton Elementary School—both serving grades PK-6 within the Colbert County school district.

For parents comparing the two, Hatton Elementary School is the clear standout. It ranks 214th out of 686 schools statewide (3 stars) and has shown steady improvement over the past three years, while Leighton Elementary School has slipped to 459th (2 stars) with a declining trend. The most dramatic gap is in 5th grade math, where Hatton posts an 82.1% proficiency rate versus Leighton's 20.9%—a 61-point difference. Hatton also outperforms Leighton in 4th and 5th grade English by 18 and 37 points, respectively. Notably, Hatton achieves these results despite having a slightly higher percentage of students on free/reduced lunch (65.3% vs. 61.4%), suggesting its instructional approach is effectively supporting economically disadvantaged students. Leighton does show one strength: 3rd grade English proficiency (71.4%) exceeds both the district (68.6%) and state (64.8%) averages, though this advantage fades by 4th and 5th grades.

Both schools share a common weakness in 4th grade science, falling below the state average of 50.2% (Leighton at 37.8%, Hatton at 38.7%). Chronic absenteeism is a concern at Leighton, where 18.5% of students are chronically absent compared to Hatton's 13.3% and the state's 12.0%—a factor likely contributing to its lower performance. Hatton also faces a 6th grade transition challenge, with math proficiency dropping to 26.3% and English to 52.6% in that grade. While Hatton spends about $885 more per student ($13,061 vs. $12,176), this modest funding difference doesn't fully explain the performance gap. Leighton serves 50% more students (355 vs. 236), yet both maintain similar student-teacher ratios, suggesting Hatton's smaller environment may foster more personalized attention. For district administrators, Hatton's 5th grade math success offers a potential model for Leighton, while addressing Leighton's absenteeism and both schools' science instruction represent clear opportunities for improvement.