Summary:
Zip code 35661 in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, is served by the Muscle Shoals City district, which includes 6 schools—4 elementary schools (including a preschool), 1 middle school, and 1 high school—enrolling nearly 3,000 students in a suburban community with a mix of socioeconomic backgrounds.
This is a high-performing district, with all three ranked schools earning 5-star ratings and top-10% statewide placements. McBride Elementary School is the academic standout, particularly in 3rd grade where math proficiency (84.93%) nearly doubles the state average and English proficiency (88.13%) is 23 points above the state. Interestingly, McBride achieves these results with the lowest per-student spending ($8,031), while early-grade schools like Webster Elementary School ($13,378) and Howell Graves Preschool ($11,965) spend more but show less dramatic test scores. Muscle Shoals High School is the district's turnaround story, jumping from 66th to 27th statewide and improving science proficiency by nearly 22 points, all while maintaining a 99% graduation rate. Muscle Shoals Middle School excels at attendance, with a chronic absenteeism rate of just 5.5%—less than half the state average.
Parents should note a few patterns. English/Language Arts is a district-wide strength at every grade level, consistently beating state averages by double digits. However, 7th grade math shows a consistent dip (52.76% proficiency) compared to 6th and 8th grades, suggesting a transition challenge. There's also a notable attendance disparity between the two 1st-2nd grade schools: Highland Park Elementary School has an 8.2% chronic absenteeism rate while Webster's is 16.9%, despite similar poverty levels. Overall, this district offers strong academics, excellent graduation outcomes, and clear areas for targeted improvement, making it a solid choice for families seeking quality public education in northwest Alabama.
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