Summary:
Zip code 35748, encompassing the Gurley, Alabama area, is home to a single elementary school, Madison County Elementary School, which serves students in grades PK through 8 with a total enrollment of 421 students.
As the only school in this zip code, Madison County Elementary School offers a unique PK-8 configuration, blending elementary and middle school grades under one roof. The school holds a 3-star rating and has shown consistent improvement, climbing from the 56th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 65th percentile in 2025-2026 within the Madison County district, which itself is highly rated at 4 stars. Academically, the school demonstrates notable strengths, particularly in 5th grade where math proficiency reaches 62.5% and English proficiency hits 80%, both well above state averages. Additionally, 8th grade science saw a remarkable jump from 41.86% to 68.29% proficiency year-over-year. However, performance is uneven across grade levels; 3rd grade math proficiency sits at just 33.33%, significantly below the state average of 44.89%, and 6th grade English also lags at 57.14%.
For parents, the most pressing concern is chronic absenteeism, which stands at 19.0%—58% higher than the state average of 12.0%. This issue is particularly relevant given that 55.82% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, suggesting socioeconomic challenges that may impact attendance and early academic foundations. The school spends $13,032 per student with a student-teacher ratio of 15.6:1, yet outcomes remain mixed, indicating potential opportunities for targeted resource allocation toward early math intervention and attendance programs. Despite these challenges, the school's upward ranking trajectory and strong performance in upper grades suggest a positive direction, with the potential to reach 4-star status if current trends continue.
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