Summary:
Zip code 35670 in Somerville, Alabama, is served by two PK-8 schools within the Morgan County district, which holds a 3-star rating and ranks 47th out of 139 districts statewide.
Union Hill School is the stronger performer overall, ranking in the 60th percentile statewide compared to Cotaco School's 50th percentile. Union Hill excels in 6th grade math (63% proficiency vs. Cotaco's 19%) and 8th grade English (81% proficiency, well above the state's 59%). It also has a dramatically lower chronic absenteeism rate at 7.5% versus Cotaco's 14.5%, and a slightly better student-teacher ratio (16.4:1 vs. 17:1). Both schools serve similar demographics with about 61% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, making the performance gap particularly notable.
Cotaco School shows strengths in early-grade English, with 3rd grade proficiency at 73% and 5th grade at 73%, both near or above district averages. However, it struggles significantly in middle-grade mathematics, especially 6th grade where only 19% of students are proficient. Cotaco also spends about $2,000 more per student ($12,127 vs. $10,115) yet achieves lower outcomes, suggesting resource allocation may need review. Both schools face a common challenge in 7th grade math, with proficiency rates dropping to 18-24%, below the state average. The district could benefit from investigating Union Hill's successful practices in 6th grade math and 8th grade English, implementing attendance interventions at Cotaco, and addressing the 7th grade math decline systemically.
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