Schools in Zip Code 36104

Zip code 36104 in Montgomery, Alabama is served by just two schools within the Montgomery County district: Baldwin Art And Academics Magnet (a middle school for grades 6-8) and Nixon Elementary School (grades PK-5), with no high schools in the immediate area.

These two schools, with nearly identical enrollments of about 480 students each, present a dramatic contrast in outcomes. Baldwin Art And Academics Magnet is a standout performer, ranked 28th out of 443 Alabama middle schools with a 5-star rating. Its students achieve proficiency rates of 80-90% in English and 85.5% in science—far exceeding state averages—and the school boasts a remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of just 6.4%. In stark contrast, Nixon Elementary School ranks in the 13th percentile statewide with a 1-star rating, and its proficiency rates in English and math lag significantly behind both state and district averages. For example, only 20.45% of Nixon 3rd graders are proficient in English compared to the state average of 64.75%.

The socioeconomic divide between the schools is striking: only 29% of Baldwin students qualify for free/reduced lunch, versus 83.6% at Nixon. Interestingly, Nixon actually spends 46% more per student ($12,030 vs. $8,212) yet achieves far lower results, suggesting that funding alone isn't the answer. Nixon's chronic absenteeism rate of 35%—nearly three times the state average—is likely a major contributing factor to its struggles. However, there is a positive trend: Nixon has shown meaningful year-over-year improvement in several subjects, including a jump in 5th-grade English proficiency from 23.88% to 42.37%. While Nixon Elementary faces significant challenges, its recent upward trajectory offers hope, while Baldwin demonstrates what a motivated student population and strong school culture can achieve, even within a district ranked in the bottom 20% statewide.