Schools in Zip Code 35960

Zip code 35960, serving the Centre, Alabama area within the Cherokee County district, contains three public schools—Centre Elementary School (PK-4), Centre Middle School (5-8), and Cherokee County High School (9-12)—together enrolling 1,563 students across a complete educational pipeline.

For parents comparing schools, Cherokee County High School stands out as the academic leader, boasting a 95.1% graduation rate (above the state's 91.5%) and a dramatic jump to the 86th percentile in 2024-2025, though it slipped to the 51st percentile the following year—suggesting volatility that may reflect cohort differences rather than a stable trend. Centre Middle School offers the most consistent improvement, climbing from the 65th to 71st percentile over three years, with strong English scores (exceeding state averages in grades 6-8) and impressive 8th-grade science proficiency (68.97% vs. 54.12% statewide). However, Centre Elementary School is the weakest link, with a declining ranking (61st to 47th percentile) and 2-star rating, particularly concerning in 4th-grade math (34.43% proficiency) and English (54.92%).

Key concerns across the district include a systemic math gap—7th-grade proficiency at Centre Middle School is just 20.75%—and a dramatic science collapse from 68.97% in 8th grade to 18.10% in 11th grade at the high school. Chronic absenteeism exceeds state levels at all three schools, with the middle school highest at 19.1% (vs. 12.0% statewide), and Centre Middle School also spends the least per student ($8,835) despite having the highest free/reduced lunch rate (56%). While English proficiency is a relative strength in middle grades, it fails to carry through to 11th grade. Parents should monitor the elementary school's downward trajectory and investigate the high school's performance swings to determine which year reflects true academic health.