Summary:
Zip code 36278, serving the Wedowee, AL area within the Randolph County district, is home to two small elementary-level schools—Wedowee Elementary School (PK-3) and Wedowee Middle School (K-6)—with a combined enrollment of 483 students and a predominantly low-income population.
These two schools present a striking contrast in academic performance. Wedowee Elementary School is the clear standout, particularly in early-grade math: its 3rd-grade math proficiency rate of 47.62% exceeds both the district (41.45%) and state (44.89%) averages, a notable achievement given that nearly 69% of its students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Its 3rd-grade English proficiency (63.49%) is also close to the state average. In contrast, Wedowee Middle School shows a dramatic decline as students advance: 4th-grade math proficiency is 35.29%, dropping to 16.67% in 5th grade and just 14.93% in 6th grade—all well below state averages. This "middle school slide" suggests a challenging transition that parents should be aware of when their children move from elementary to middle school.
Attendance patterns are also counter-intuitive. Wedowee Middle School has an excellent chronic absenteeism rate of just 8.3% (far better than the district's 12.8% and state's 12.0%), yet its test scores lag significantly. Meanwhile, Wedowee Elementary School has a high chronic absenteeism rate of 20.7% but still manages to beat state averages in math. Additionally, Wedowee Middle School spends more per student ($10,408 vs. $8,725) yet achieves worse outcomes, raising questions about resource allocation. For parents, the key takeaway is that Wedowee Elementary School is beating the odds in early grades, but targeted support will be critical once students transition to Wedowee Middle School to reverse the downward academic trajectory.
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