Summary:
Wetumpka, Alabama (zip code 36092) is home to four schools within the Elmore County district, serving approximately 3,190 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, including a virtual option.
Wetumpka High School is the clear standout, ranking in the top 10% of Alabama high schools and outperforming both district and state averages in every subject. Its graduation rate of 87.1% matches the district but trails the state average, and it achieves these results while spending the least per student among traditional schools. In contrast, the feeder schools show more mixed results. Wetumpka Elementary School has seen its state ranking decline steadily over three years, from the 73rd to the 45th percentile, with 3rd grade math proficiency at 40.9%—below the state average. Wetumpka Middle School shows a troubling pattern in math, with proficiency dropping from 40.4% in 5th grade to just 17.8% by 8th grade, a 56% decline that far exceeds district trends. The middle school also has the highest chronic absenteeism rate in the zip code at 17.7%, nearly 50% above the state average.
EDGE Virtual School presents a unique paradox: it has remarkably low chronic absenteeism (0.6%) but very low academic proficiency, with 11th grade math at just 3.45%. Serving a high-poverty population (62.9% free/reduced lunch) with a 38:1 student-teacher ratio, it appears to serve students who struggled in traditional settings. English language arts is a relative strength across all schools, with the middle school's 5th grade proficiency (84.3%) nearly 15 points above the state. The high school's success despite weaker elementary and middle school performance suggests either strong high school interventions or a selection effect, but the declining elementary rankings signal challenges that may impact future high school cohorts.
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