Summary:
Zip code 36264, serving the Heflin, Alabama area, is home to four schools within the Cleburne County district, which collectively educate roughly 1,395 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in a predominantly rural setting.
For parents, the standout school in this area is Cleburne County Middle School, which ranks in the 86th percentile statewide and boasts an exceptionally low chronic absenteeism rate of just 3.4%—a fraction of the district average. This school outperforms state averages in most subjects, particularly in 6th grade math and English. Meanwhile, Pleasant Grove Elementary School has shown the most dramatic improvement, climbing from the 35th to the 75th percentile over two years despite having the highest poverty rate in the district. Cleburne County Elementary School excels in early elementary English (85% proficiency in 3rd grade) but shows a concerning dip in 4th grade math. At the secondary level, Cleburne County High School maintains an impressive 96.3% graduation rate, though it struggles with a 15.5% chronic absenteeism rate and lower test scores in upper grades.
Key takeaways for families include a district-wide strength in English/language arts across nearly all grade levels, but inconsistent math performance, particularly during grade transitions. The 8th grade year at the high school shows a significant academic drop compared to 7th grade at the middle school, suggesting the transition may be disruptive. Resource allocation also raises questions—the middle school achieves top rankings with the lowest per-student funding ($8,654), while the elementary school receives the most ($11,390) with mixed results. Overall, this district demonstrates that rural schools can achieve strong outcomes, with the middle school leading the way and Pleasant Grove showing what focused improvement can accomplish.
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