Summary:
Zip code 35958, serving the Higdon and Bryant communities in Jackson County, Alabama, is home to two schools: North Sand Mountain School and Bryant School, both part of the Jackson County district, which holds a 3-star rating.
For parents, the most important distinction is size and scope. North Sand Mountain School is the dominant institution, serving 694 students from pre-K through 12th grade. It offers a full secondary program with a graduation rate of 92.3%, slightly above the state average. However, it struggles with chronic absenteeism at 17.6%, nearly triple the rate at Bryant School (6.4%). Academically, North Sand Mountain excels in early grades—3rd grade math proficiency is 61.7% versus the state's 44.89%—but performance declines sharply by 11th grade, where math proficiency drops to just 10.87%. Science scores are a notable strength, with 8th grade proficiency at 75%. In contrast, Bryant School is a small PK-6 elementary school with only 103 students, offering a more intimate setting with a better student-teacher ratio of 14.7:1. Its academic rankings have fluctuated between the 39th and 57th percentiles, likely due to the small sample size of its grade-level cohorts.
Both schools serve communities with similar poverty levels, as indicated by free/reduced lunch rates around 38-39%. Bryant School spends more per student ($10,262) than North Sand Mountain School ($9,637), yet its test scores are generally weaker, raising questions about resource allocation. The dramatic year-over-year swings in test scores at North Sand Mountain—such as 8th grade science jumping from 18.97% to 75% proficiency—suggest either significant cohort changes or data variability. Ultimately, parents choosing between these schools should weigh North Sand Mountain's comprehensive K-12 offerings and strong early academics against its attendance challenges and secondary declines, while Bryant offers a smaller, more stable environment for elementary students.
Thank you for your feedback!