Summary:
ZIP code 36035 in Goshen, Alabama, is served by two schools within the Pike County district: Goshen Elementary School (grades PK-6, 446 students) and Goshen High School (grades 7-12, 356 students), together serving roughly 802 students in this small, rural community.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that Goshen High School is the relative strength of the two, showing positive momentum. Its state ranking improved significantly to 194th out of about 380 high schools, and it boasts a strong 91.2% graduation rate that beats the district average. The high school also outperforms its district in 11th-grade math, science, and English, and had a standout 8th-grade science score that beat the state average last year. In contrast, Goshen Elementary School is a major concern, particularly its 5th-grade math proficiency, which sits at just 8%—a staggering 31 points below the state average and a sharp drop from the prior year. While the elementary school does well in 3rd-grade math (50.91%, above the state), performance plummets in 4th and 5th grades, suggesting a transition problem as concepts become more complex.
Both schools face significant challenges, including high poverty rates (61-67% free/reduced lunch) and elevated chronic absenteeism, which is especially severe at the high school at 20.1%—nearly double the state average. Scores also swing dramatically year-to-year, indicating small cohorts and potential instability. The high school's higher per-student spending ($11,387 vs. $10,566) correlates with its better relative performance. Ultimately, while the high school demonstrates that progress is possible, the elementary school's math crisis and the district-wide attendance issues are urgent priorities for the Pike County system.
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