Summary:
Zip code 35978 is home to a single school, Henagar Junior High School, a PK-8 elementary school in the rural community of Henagar, Alabama, serving 261 students within the DeKalb County district.
As the only school in the area, Henagar Junior High is the clear focal point, and it is showing a remarkable upward trajectory. The school has jumped from a 2-star rating (37th percentile) in 2023-2024 to a 4-star rating (72nd percentile) in 2025-2026, climbing 240 spots in the state rankings. This improvement is driven by standout math scores, particularly in the early grades. Third-grade math proficiency is an exceptional 90%, nearly double the state average of 44.89%, and the school also outperforms the state in every grade level for math, with especially strong showings in 6th (56.25% vs. 35.22%) and 7th grade (54.17% vs. 24.46%). English scores are also solid, generally exceeding state averages in grades 3-6, though they dip slightly below the state in 7th and 8th grade. Science is a mixed bag: 8th-grade science improved dramatically to 57.14% (above the state average), but 4th-grade science lags at 36.11% compared to the state's 50.23%.
Beyond test scores, the school demonstrates strong health indicators. Despite 61.69% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, the chronic absenteeism rate is a low 8.7%, better than both the district (10.6%) and state (12.0%). The favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.8:1 supports personalized instruction, likely contributing to the school's success. With 11 of 14 subject-grade combinations improving year-over-year, including a +23.81 point jump in 8th-grade science, Henagar Junior High is a school on the rise, making it a compelling option for families in the area seeking a high-performing, community-focused school.
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