Summary:
Zip code 36010 in Brundidge, Alabama, is served by two schools within the Pike County district: Pike County Elementary School (grades PK-6) and Pike County High School (grades 7-12), together enrolling 938 students in a high-poverty community where roughly 77-80% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Pike County Elementary School is the clear standout, consistently earning 3-star ratings (54th-61st percentile statewide) despite its demographics. In 2025-2026, it posted impressive results: 5th grade math proficiency hit 66.67% (nearly 30 points above the district) and 5th grade ELA reached 77.78%, surpassing state averages. Third grade ELA also exceeded state benchmarks at 73.91%. In contrast, Pike County High School struggles significantly—its ranking dropped from the 42nd to 27th percentile before recovering slightly to 33rd. The most alarming issue is 7th grade math, where only 2.04% of students are proficient versus 24.46% statewide, a 22-point gap. High school graduation rates (84.8%) also trail the state average (91.5%), and chronic absenteeism is double the state rate at 24.2%.
The most striking finding is the dramatic academic collapse between elementary and high school: 5th grade math proficiency of 66.67% plummets to just 2.04% in 7th grade—a 64-point drop—suggesting a serious middle school transition problem. Year-over-year volatility in elementary math (e.g., 4th grade falling from 42.55% to 23.33%) points to cohort-specific factors or inconsistent instruction. However, science shows relative strength, with 8th grade proficiency at 39.29% and 5th grade science previously outperforming state averages. The elementary school’s success despite 79.74% economic disadvantage proves poverty need not dictate outcomes, making its practices worth replicating. Immediate priorities should include investigating the 6th-to-7th grade transition, addressing chronic absenteeism, and providing intensive math intervention for 7th graders.
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