Schools in Zip Code 35907

Zip code 35907 in Southside, Alabama, is served by two public schools within the Etowah County district, together educating roughly 1,410 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, though notably there is no middle school in the immediate area.

Southside Elementary School is the clear standout, having climbed from the 83rd to the 92nd percentile in state rankings over two years to earn a 5-star rating. Its English Language Arts proficiency is exceptional—93% of 5th graders and 91% of 3rd graders meet state standards, far outpacing the state average of roughly 65-70%. Math proficiency is also strong, though it declines from 74% in 3rd grade to 52% in 5th grade, a trend worth watching. In contrast, Southside High School has slipped from the 75th to the 62nd percentile, now holding a 3-star rating. Its 11th-grade proficiency rates hover near or below state averages—25% in math, 29% in English, and 38% in science—despite a strong 95.4% graduation rate. The high school also struggles with chronic absenteeism at 22.2%, nearly four times the elementary school's excellent 6.1% rate and almost double the state average.

The most striking finding is the disconnect between these two schools. The elementary school outperforms state averages by 20-30 points in most subjects, yet that academic momentum is lost by high school. The absence of a local middle school means students in grades 6-8 attend schools elsewhere in the district, creating a disruption that likely contributes to this decline. Both schools spend about $7,930 per student, so the elementary school's top-tier results demonstrate efficient resource use, while the high school's average outcomes with similar spending suggest a need for targeted interventions around attendance and academic rigor. For parents, this area offers an outstanding elementary education, but they should carefully consider the middle school transition and high school environment when planning for the long term.