Summary:
Zip code 35654 in Russellville, Alabama, is served by two schools within the Franklin County district, Tharptown Elementary School (PK-6) and Tharptown High School (7-12), which together educate roughly 951 students in a single PK-12 feeder pattern.
There is a stark achievement gap between the two schools. Tharptown Elementary School earns a 2-star rating and shows relative strength in English, with 3rd grade proficiency at 57.33% and 4th grade science essentially matching the state average. In contrast, Tharptown High School holds a 1-star rating, and its academic performance is deeply concerning—7th grade English proficiency (21.92%) is less than half of what 5th graders achieve, while 8th grade math proficiency sits at just 5.8%. The high school also trails the district and state on graduation rate (87.3% vs. 91.5% statewide) and has a chronic absenteeism rate of 13.3%, well above the elementary school's 8.4%.
Mathematics is a critical weakness across both campuses, with elementary math proficiency ranging from 16.67% to 34.67% and high school scores falling far below state averages. The data also reveals significant year-over-year volatility, including a 41-point drop in 4th grade math and a 16-point improvement in 8th grade science, suggesting small cohorts or inconsistent instruction. Both schools serve predominantly low-income populations (63-67% free/reduced lunch), yet the elementary school achieves better outcomes despite similar demographics. The high school's more crowded classrooms (17.0:1 student-teacher ratio vs. 13.4:1) and slightly lower per-student spending ($9,124 vs. $9,738) may contribute to its struggles. By 11th grade, only 11.94% of students are proficient in both math and English—roughly one-third of the state average—raising serious questions about college and career readiness for graduates.
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