Summary:
Zip code 35906 in Rainbow City, Alabama, is served by two schools within the Etowah County district, John S Jones Elementary School (PK-5) and Rainbow Middle School (6-8), which together educate 1,379 students in a single feeder pattern.
John S Jones Elementary School is the clear academic standout, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the top 25% statewide. Its 5th grade math proficiency (71.79%) is a remarkable 32.73 percentage points above the state average, and its English scores are strong across all grades. In contrast, Rainbow Middle School shows steady improvement, climbing 32 ranks over two years to the 78th percentile, but it struggles with math. The most striking finding is the "math cliff": 5th graders at the elementary school hit 71.79% proficiency, yet just one year later, 6th graders at the middle school drop to 37.64%—a 34-point collapse. Math proficiency then continues to decline to 19.58% by 8th grade, falling below both district and state averages. English, however, is a consistent strength at both schools, with middle school scores exceeding state averages by 15-18 points. Science is also a hidden gem, with both schools well above state proficiency levels.
Resource allocation differs notably: John S Jones receives $1,632 more per student and has a better student-teacher ratio (16.1:1 vs. 20.3:1) despite serving a higher-need population (53.69% free/reduced lunch). Interestingly, the elementary school has lower chronic absenteeism (8.1%) than the middle school (12.3%), which exceeds the state average. The elementary school also showed volatility in 3rd grade math, dropping 27 points year-over-year, suggesting a cohort-specific issue. For parents, this zip code offers a strong elementary foundation, particularly in math and English, but the middle school's declining math performance represents the biggest area for improvement in an otherwise solid PK-8 pathway.
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