Summary:
Zip code 35802 in Huntsville, AL is served by 5 schools within the Huntsville City district, educating 3,628 students across elementary, middle, and high school levels. This area offers a wide range of educational experiences, from top-performing schools to those facing significant challenges, making school choice particularly important for families.
Jones Valley Elementary School stands out as the top elementary performer, consistently earning 4-star ratings and ranking in the 83rd percentile statewide. Its English proficiency rates are exceptional, reaching 86% in 5th grade, and it also excels in science. Virgil Grissom High School is the other bright spot, showing remarkable improvement by jumping 48 spots in state rankings to reach the 90th percentile with a 5-star rating. Its English proficiency surged by 14 percentage points in a single year. In contrast, Whitesburg Middle School is a major concern, holding 1-star ratings for three consecutive years with math proficiency rates as low as 9%—roughly one-third of the district average. Roger B Chaffee Elementary School and Whitesburg Elementary School fall in the middle range, with Whitesburg Elementary showing strong attendance but struggling in math.
The most striking finding is the dramatic academic decline between elementary and middle school, suggesting significant learning loss during this transition. Chronic absenteeism also rises sharply with grade level, from just 1.5-4% in elementary schools to 14% at the high school. Socioeconomic diversity within the zip code is notable, with free/reduced lunch rates ranging from 27% at Jones Valley to 58% at Whitesburg Middle. Interestingly, per-student spending does not correlate with outcomes—Grissom High spends the least yet performs best. While the district overall holds only a 2-star rating, these individual schools demonstrate that parents should look beyond district-level data to find the right fit for their child.
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