Summary:
Zip code 35806 in Huntsville, Alabama, is served by 4 schools—2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high school—enrolling about 3,656 students across two districts: Huntsville City and Madison County. This area offers a stark contrast in educational quality depending on which attendance zone you live in, making school choice a critical factor for families.
The standout performer is Monrovia Elementary School, which earns a 5-star rating and ranks in the top 10% of Alabama elementary schools. Its 3rd grade math proficiency (79.2%) is more than triple that of Providence Elementary (25%), and its 5th grade English scores (92.8%) are nearly 23 points above the state average. Monrovia Middle School also performs well, with 8th grade science (63.6%) and English (71.9%) proficiency well above state averages. In contrast, Columbia High School is the most concerning, with a 1-star rating and 11th grade math proficiency of just 7.2%—nearly 4 times below the state average. Providence Elementary also struggles, with math proficiency in the 17–25% range across grades.
The district divide is dramatic: Madison County schools consistently outperform Huntsville City schools by 30–50 percentage points on identical assessments. Columbia High spends the most per student ($10,661) yet has the worst outcomes, while Monrovia Elementary spends less and achieves far better results. Interestingly, Providence Elementary has the highest poverty rate (59.2% free/reduced lunch) but the lowest chronic absenteeism (4.9%) in the zip code, suggesting strong family engagement despite economic challenges. Columbia High did show a positive trend, with English proficiency nearly doubling from 11.3% to 20.5% year-over-year, though it remains below state levels. For families, the Monrovia zone offers clearly superior outcomes, while the Providence/Columbia zone represents an urgent need for intervention.
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