Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 35951

Zip code 35951 is home to two elementary schools—Asbury Elementary School and Albertville Kindergarten and PreK—serving a combined 1,295 students from Pre-K through 5th grade across two different districts: Marshall County and Albertville City. Both districts rank in the lower third of Alabama’s 139 districts, each holding a 2-star rating.

Asbury Elementary is the only school in the area with standardized test data, making it the primary academic benchmark. Its performance is mixed: English proficiency consistently outpaces math in every grade, but 5th grade math proficiency sits at just 11.61%—roughly one-third of the state average and a dramatic drop from 4th grade’s 35.46%. The school’s state ranking has slipped over three years, from 486th to 548th, despite excellent attendance (4.4% chronic absenteeism, well below the 12% state average). In contrast, Albertville Kindergarten and PreK has a chronic absenteeism rate of 19.3%, more than four times higher than Asbury’s and 61% above the state average—a concern for early learners, though no test data exists for this PK-K school. Asbury also serves a more economically disadvantaged population (73.25% free/reduced lunch vs. 53.71% at Albertville), yet its attendance is far better, suggesting factors beyond income drive the absenteeism gap.

Spending differs notably: Albertville Kindergarten and PreK spends $10,634 per student versus $7,595 at Asbury, a 40% gap despite similar student-teacher ratios (18.2:1 vs. 17.2:1). Asbury’s test scores also show volatility year-to-year—3rd grade math fell 11 points, while 4th grade math rose 14 points—pointing to cohort effects or teaching changes rather than steady improvement. For parents, Asbury offers stronger attendance and more complete academic data, but math intervention is clearly needed, especially by 5th grade. Albertville’s early childhood focus lacks outcome measures, leaving its quality uncertain despite higher spending. The lack of test data for the kindergarten center is a significant blind spot, particularly given its high absenteeism and the importance of early learning foundations.