Summary:
Zip code 36111 in Montgomery, AL, is served by five public schools within the Montgomery County district, enrolling roughly 3,600 students across elementary, middle, and high school grades, and offering a dramatic mix of academic outcomes.
This area is defined by stark contrasts. Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School is a statewide powerhouse, ranked #1 in Alabama with a 100% graduation rate and 91-99% test proficiency, while Johnson Abernathy Graetz High School struggles with 7-12% proficiency and a 53.9% chronic absenteeism rate. At the elementary level, Bear Exploration Center shines with 96-98% English proficiency and a 3.7% absenteeism rate, whereas Dannelly Elementary School posts much lower scores (17-38% proficiency) despite having the highest poverty rate in the area. Floyd Middle School is a notable bright spot, achieving 85.5% proficiency in 8th grade science—more than double the district average—and showing year-over-year improvement in math.
For parents, the key takeaway is that school choice dramatically impacts outcomes here. The highest-performing schools (Loveless, Bear, Floyd) all have lower poverty rates and better attendance, while the struggling schools (Johnson Abernathy, Dannelly) face significant socioeconomic challenges. Notably, per-student spending does not explain the gap—Floyd Middle spends the least yet outperforms schools with higher funding. The concentration of elite schools in this zip code makes it attractive for education-focused families, but the disparities within such a small area highlight how much school selection matters. If you can secure a spot at Loveless, Bear, or Floyd, your child will likely receive a top-tier education; otherwise, the experience may be vastly different.
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