Summary:
Zip code 35744 is home to a single elementary school, Dutton Elementary School, a small rural school serving grades PK through 8 with 201 students in the Jackson County district.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that Dutton Elementary is a high-performing school that consistently beats state averages, especially in English Language Arts. The school ranks in the 86th percentile statewide, placing it in the top 15% of all Alabama elementary schools, and its ranking has improved over the past three years. This is particularly impressive given that nearly two-thirds of its students (64.18%) qualify for free or reduced lunch, a factor often associated with lower test scores. The school maintains a 16:1 student-teacher ratio, which likely supports its personalized approach. In ELA, proficiency rates are dramatically higher than district and state averages across all grade levels, with 8th graders hitting an exceptional 91.67% proficiency. Math performance is strong but more variable, with grades 4, 5, and 8 showing proficiency between 60% and 66.67%, while 7th grade math dips to 30.77%—still above the state average of 24.46%.
One of the most remarkable findings is the phenomenal year-over-year growth in the 8th grade class. Between the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years, math proficiency jumped from 50% to 66.67%, science skyrocketed from a below-average 22.73% to an excellent 75%, and English soared from 59.09% to 91.67%. This dramatic improvement suggests highly effective interventions or an exceptional group of students and teachers. The only concerning data point is the 8th-grade science score from 2024-2025 (22.73%), which was well below district and state averages, but the rebound to 75% the following year is encouraging. Chronic absenteeism (12.6%) is nearly identical to district and state averages, and per-student spending is $11,262. Overall, Dutton Elementary proves that a small school can achieve outstanding academic results, making it a standout choice for families in this area.
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