Summary:
Zip code 35756 is home to a single public high school, James Clemens High School, which serves grades 9-12 and is part of the highly-rated Madison City school district, ranked 11th out of 139 districts in Alabama.
For parents, this school is an academic powerhouse. James Clemens consistently ranks in the top 4% of all Alabama high schools, holding a 5-star rating. Its graduation rate is an impressive 95.8%, well above the state average of 91.5%. In the most recent testing year, the school’s proficiency rates were more than double the state average in every subject: 58.38% in Mathematics (vs. 27.21% statewide), 63.01% in Science (vs. 36.17%), and 55.15% in English (vs. 33.73%). The school also showed remarkable year-over-year growth, with a stunning 12.8-point jump in Math proficiency and a 10-point gain in Science. While the school slightly trails its district in Science by about one point, it outperforms the district in both Math and English. The student-teacher ratio is 17.8:1, and per-student spending is $9,387, suggesting efficient use of resources given the strong outcomes.
One area to watch is chronic absenteeism. At 11.2%, the school’s rate is 30% higher than the district’s 8.6%, though it remains below the state average of 12.0%. This is a notable paradox given the high test scores, possibly indicating that absenteeism is concentrated among a smaller group of students. Additionally, about 23.3% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, indicating a relatively affluent student body. The school’s state ranking has fluctuated slightly (11th to 16th to 14th) over three years, but it has maintained its elite status throughout. Overall, James Clemens offers exceptional academics, strong graduation outcomes, and a clear track record of improvement, making it a top choice for families in this area.
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