Summary:
Zip code 36106 in Montgomery, Alabama is home to just 2 elementary schools—Forest Avenue Elementary School (grades K-5) and Vaughn Road Elementary School (grades PK-5)—both operating within the Montgomery County district, which ranks in the bottom tier of Alabama schools.
These two schools could hardly be more different. Forest Avenue is a statewide standout, holding the #1 ranking in Alabama for three straight years with a 5-star rating and near-perfect test scores—94-95% proficiency in 3rd and 4th grade math, and 100% proficiency in 3rd and 5th grade English. Its chronic absenteeism rate is just 0.8%, and only about 26% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch. In contrast, Vaughn Road ranks in the bottom 9-14% of the state, with math proficiency ranging from 11% to 23% and English proficiency between 29% and 44%. Over 80% of its students qualify for free/reduced lunch, and its chronic absenteeism rate is 19.7%—nearly 25 times higher than Forest Avenue’s. Vaughn Road’s ranking has also declined steadily over the past three years, and its 5th grade math scores are roughly half of its 3rd grade scores, suggesting students fall further behind as they advance.
One of the most surprising findings is the spending paradox: Vaughn Road receives about $3,000 more per student ($10,215 vs. $7,213) yet achieves far lower outcomes. This suggests that additional funding alone isn’t overcoming the challenges of concentrated poverty, or that Forest Avenue is using its resources with exceptional efficiency. For parents, the choice is stark—Forest Avenue offers elite academics and strong attendance, while Vaughn Road faces significant hurdles that will require targeted support around absenteeism and cumulative learning gaps. The two schools sit in the same zip code but serve very different student populations, making school choice here especially consequential.
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