Best Public Schools in Zip Code 35904

Zip code 35904 in Gadsden, Alabama, is served by six public schools—four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school—that together educate 2,780 students, with the majority coming from low-income households as reflected in free/reduced lunch rates between 53.7% and 82.03%.

For parents, the standout choice in this area is Mitchell Elementary School, which ranks in the 72nd percentile statewide and outperforms both the Gadsden City district and Alabama averages in nearly every subject. Mitchell achieves this with the lowest per-student spending ($8,237), the smallest class sizes (14.8:1), and the lowest chronic absenteeism (9.0%) in the zip code. In contrast, Floyd Elementary School is the most struggling school, ranking in the 6th percentile with only 7.81% of 5th graders proficient in math, the highest poverty rate (82.03%), and the most crowded classrooms (23.8:1). Sansom Middle School shows the most positive momentum, improving its state ranking from the 32nd to 47th percentile in one year, with English proficiency (54-55%) nearly matching state averages and 8th grade science (53.57%) essentially tying the state. However, Gadsden City High School represents a significant drop-off, with only 17.97% math and 22.06% English proficiency, alongside a chronic absenteeism rate of 20.7%—nearly double the state average.

Key takeaways for families include a striking inverse relationship between spending and results—Mitchell spends the least yet performs best, while Walnut Park Elementary School spends the most ($11,169) but ranks in the bottom half. Highland Elementary School, part of the higher-ranked Etowah County district, still underperforms most Gadsden City schools, including a 0% 4th grade math proficiency rate. The data also shows dramatic year-over-year swings in test scores, likely due to small class sizes, and suggests that middle school gains are not carrying through to high school, pointing to a transition problem worth investigating. Parents should evaluate individual schools rather than relying on district reputation alone.