Summary:
Zip code 36108 in Montgomery, Alabama, is home to six elementary schools serving approximately 2,291 students from Pre-K through 7th grade, with five schools belonging to the Montgomery County district and one independent academy, all serving predominantly economically disadvantaged populations.
Carver Elementary School is the clear standout, ranking 233rd out of 686 Alabama elementary schools with a 3-star rating, while the other five schools rank in the bottom 20% statewide. Carver achieves proficiency rates 2-3 times higher than its peers, with 58% of 3rd graders proficient in math and 79% in English, both exceeding state averages. It also has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (10%) and the best student-teacher ratio (13.3:1) in the area. In contrast, LIFE Academy at Historic St Jude Educational Institute shows a concerning downward trend in rankings, has the highest chronic absenteeism at 29.3%, and struggles with math proficiency at just 12.77% for 3rd graders. Morris Elementary School has the lowest math scores (7.46%) and highest poverty rate (90.34% free/reduced lunch), while Southlawn Elementary School and King Elementary fall in the middle, with King showing stronger English proficiency (43.75%) than math (20.83%).
The data reveals a strong connection between attendance and achievement, as schools with absenteeism above 25% (Morris, Southlawn, LIFE Academy) show the lowest proficiency rates. English proficiency consistently outpaces math across all schools, suggesting a systemic challenge with math instruction. Encouragingly, Catoma Elementary School improved dramatically from 671st to 562nd in state rankings, with 4th grade math jumping from 3.33% to 33.33% proficiency year-over-year. Carver's success, achieved without the highest per-student spending ($10,552 vs. King's $12,569), demonstrates that effective resource allocation, smaller class sizes, and attendance interventions can overcome socioeconomic barriers, offering a model for the other schools in this area.
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