Schools in Zip Code 36206

Zip code 36206 in Anniston, Alabama, is served by four public schools—Saks Elementary School, Saks High School, Anniston Middle School, and EXCEL Academy—spanning grades PK-12 across two districts: Calhoun County and Anniston City.

For parents, the standout choice is Saks High School, which posts a remarkable 97.3% graduation rate—well above the state average—and generally outperforms its peers in English proficiency, especially in 8th grade (54.1%). However, its math scores are a serious concern, with only 2.7% of 7th graders proficient. EXCEL Academy is the attendance champion, with the lowest chronic absenteeism (6.4%) despite a very high student-teacher ratio of 32.6:1, suggesting an alternative model that keeps students engaged. Saks Elementary School offers the best early math foundation (20.9% in 6th grade) but still trails state averages. Anniston Middle School is the weakest performer, with the highest absenteeism (17.1%), the highest poverty rate (81.5% free/reduced lunch), and the lowest rankings—despite receiving the most per-student funding ($13,119).

Key takeaways: English proficiency consistently outpaces math across all schools, with gaps as wide as 36 points at Anniston Middle School. Test scores are highly volatile year-to-year, so single-year results should be viewed cautiously. The spending paradox is stark—Anniston Middle School spends the most yet achieves the least, while EXCEL Academy does more with far fewer resources. Overall, Calhoun County schools generally outperform Anniston City schools, but every school in this zip code needs targeted math intervention and absenteeism reduction to improve outcomes.