Summary:
Zip code 35907 is home to a single public high school, Southside High School, which serves grades 9-12 with an enrollment of 825 students in the Southside, Alabama area, operating under the Etowah County school district.
As the only high school in this zip code, Southside High School offers a mid-sized, community-oriented environment. The school has seen its state ranking slip over the past three years, falling from the 75th percentile (4 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 62nd percentile (3 stars) in 2025-2026. However, this decline is not reflected in recent test scores, which actually improved in math (from 19.4% to 25% proficient) and science (from 34% to 37.5% proficient) between 2024-2025 and 2025-2026. The school's science proficiency now exceeds the state average, while math remains slightly below it. English scores, however, dropped by 4 points to 28.6% proficient, lagging the state average of 33.7%. The school's graduation rate is a strong point at 95.4%, well above the state's 91.5%.
The most pressing concern for Southside High School is chronic absenteeism, which stands at 22.2%—nearly double the state average of 12% and significantly higher than the district's 15%. This means roughly one in four students is regularly missing school, which may be undermining overall performance despite the recent test score gains. The school also maintains a student-teacher ratio of 19:1, slightly above the recommended range, and serves a student body where about one-third qualify for free or reduced lunch. While Southside consistently outperforms its district in all subjects, it faces challenges common to the region. For parents, this school offers solid graduation outcomes and improving science instruction, but addressing attendance issues appears to be the key to unlocking further academic gains and reversing the ranking slide.
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