Summary:
Zip code 35761 in New Market, Alabama, is served by three elementary schools within the Madison County district, collectively educating roughly 1,400 students across grades PK-6.
For parents, the standout choice is New Market School, which posts the strongest overall academics with the highest state ranking (75th percentile) and the lowest chronic absenteeism at 9.1%. It leads the area in 6th-grade math (50.88% proficiency) and 4th-grade science (70%), far exceeding district and state averages. Moores Mill Intermediate School is the largest (675 students) and shows strong 5th-grade English (79.17%) and math (50.83%), but its state ranking has slipped from the 83rd to 67th percentile over three years, a trend worth monitoring. Walnut Grove School faces the most challenges: it has the highest chronic absenteeism (16.8%), the highest share of students on free/reduced lunch (53.14%), and the weakest math scores, particularly in 6th grade (25.81% vs. 40.15% district). Interestingly, Walnut Grove receives the most per-student funding ($12,572) yet trails its peers, while Moores Mill spends the least ($8,434) and outperforms it—suggesting money alone doesn't drive results.
All three schools share a notable strength in English language arts, beating state averages across most grades, even at Walnut Grove (82.86% in 5th-grade English). The biggest gaps appear in upper-grade math, with a 25-point spread between New Market and Walnut Grove in 6th grade. Attendance clearly correlates with achievement: New Market's low absenteeism aligns with its top performance, while Walnut Grove's high absenteeism tracks with its struggles. Class size doesn't predict success either—Moores Mill has the largest classes (22.5:1) yet outperforms Walnut Grove's smaller ones (15.7:1). For parents, choosing between these schools can significantly impact outcomes, and targeted efforts to improve attendance and math instruction could benefit all three.
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