Schools in Zip Code 35973

Zip code 35973 is home to just one school, Gaylesville High School, a small, rural PK-12 alternative school in Gaylesville, Alabama, serving 341 students within the Cherokee County district.

For parents, the most important takeaway is that this school shows a dramatic split between its early and later grades. In 3rd grade, students are thriving, with 62.96% proficient in math and 74.07% in English—both well above state averages. This strong foundation, however, does not carry through. By 11th grade, proficiency plummets to just 8% in math and 16.67% in English, far below state averages. The middle grades also show significant struggles, particularly 5th grade math at 9.38% proficiency. This pattern suggests that while the school excels at early elementary instruction, it faces serious challenges in maintaining academic momentum through middle and high school. The school does boast a strong 96.8% graduation rate, which exceeds the state average, but this high graduation rate contrasts sharply with the low high school test scores, raising questions about academic rigor. Chronic absenteeism is also a major concern, sitting at 23.0%—nearly double the state rate of 12.0%—which likely contributes to the declining performance in upper grades.

With 61.88% of students on free/reduced lunch, the school serves a predominantly economically disadvantaged population, yet its early elementary success proves effective foundational teaching is happening. The student-teacher ratio of 15.5:1 is favorable, and per-student spending is reasonable. However, the year-over-year volatility in test scores, such as 3rd grade math jumping from 39.13% to 62.96% proficiency, indicates small class sizes where individual student performance can dramatically shift percentages. Parents should be aware that while their child may receive excellent early instruction, the school will need targeted interventions in upper grades to address the significant academic decline and high absenteeism rates.