Summary:
Zip code 36108 in Montgomery, AL, is served by 9 schools—6 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools—enrolling roughly 4,550 students, with the vast majority of families qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch (63% to 90% across schools).
For parents, the standout is Carver Elementary School, which earns 3 stars (233rd of 686 in Alabama) and posts the lowest chronic absenteeism in the area at 10%. Its 3rd-grade math proficiency (58%) is more than double the district average, and English proficiency (79-83%) far exceeds state averages. In contrast, McIntyre Comprehensive Academy ranks 379th of 380 high schools, with a 48.6% graduation rate and near-zero proficiency, despite spending $38,362 per student—nearly 4x more than other local schools. Southlawn Elementary School is the most improved, jumping from the 2nd to 13th percentile, while Southlawn Middle School shows a stark "middle school cliff"—6th-grade math proficiency drops to 0%, down from 27.7% in 5th grade at its feeder elementary. Carver Senior High School faces a severe attendance crisis (49.2% chronic absenteeism) and 11th-grade English proficiency of just 4.7%.
Chronic absenteeism is the clearest predictor of success here: Catoma Elementary School (14.7%), King Elementary (18.1%), Morris Elementary School (26.5%), and LIFE Academy at Historic St Jude Educational Institute (29.3%) all lag behind Carver Elementary, which proves that strong attendance and early literacy can overcome poverty. The Montgomery County district operates 8 of these schools, while LIFE Academy is a charter with decent English scores but weak math. For parents, the data suggests prioritizing schools with lower absenteeism and focusing on the critical transition into middle school, where achievement collapses.
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