Summary:
Zip code 35906, encompassing the Rainbow City area of Alabama, is served by a single elementary school, John S Jones Elementary School, which educates 745 students in grades PK-5 as part of the Etowah County district.
For parents, John S Jones Elementary School stands out as a high-performing school that consistently beats state averages, despite having 53.69% of its students on free or reduced lunch. The school's greatest strength is its upper-grade academics, particularly in math, where 5th-grade proficiency reaches an impressive 71.79% compared to the state average of 39.06%. English Language Arts is also a consistent bright spot, with proficiency rates between 69% and 79% across all grades, well above state norms. The school also excels in attendance, with a chronic absenteeism rate of just 8.1% versus the state's 12.0%, and maintains a solid student-teacher ratio of 16.1:1. Historically, the school has ranked in the top 25% of Alabama elementary schools, achieving its best placement of 74th out of 680 schools in the 2024-2025 school year.
However, there are a few areas of concern. The school's overall state ranking dropped to 156th in 2025-2026, largely driven by a dramatic 27-point decline in 3rd-grade math proficiency, which fell from 72.65% to 45.67% year-over-year. This volatility in early grades is worth monitoring, as is science performance, which, while above the state average (66.67% vs. 50.23% in 4th grade), is only marginally better than the district average. Despite these fluctuations, the school's ability to outperform state benchmarks in nearly every subject, especially in upper grades, makes it a strong choice for families seeking a school with proven academic growth and a supportive environment.
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