Summary:
Zip code 36305 is home to a single public elementary school, Highlands Elementary School, which serves grades Kindergarten through 5th grade with an enrollment of 501 students in the Dothan City district.
Highlands Elementary School stands out as a high-performing institution, particularly when compared to the broader Dothan City district. The school has shown impressive improvement, jumping from the 61st to the 72nd percentile in state rankings and earning a 4-star rating. In 2025-2026, proficiency rates in English are exceptionally strong, ranging from 69% in 4th grade to 77% in 3rd grade—roughly 25 percentage points higher than district averages. Science proficiency in 4th grade is also a standout at 67.65%, far exceeding the state average of 50.23%. Mathematics is solid in 3rd and 4th grades (around 54% proficiency), but 5th-grade math is a clear weak spot at 37.74%, which falls below the state average of 39.06%. Year-over-year, the school showed dramatic gains in 4th-grade math (from 40.79% to 54.41%) and science (from 47.37% to 67.65%), though 3rd-grade math saw a slight dip.
Beyond academics, the school environment is notably positive. The chronic absenteeism rate is just 8.1%, significantly better than the district (13.7%) and state (12.0%) averages, indicating strong student engagement. The student-teacher ratio of 15.1 supports personalized instruction, and 38.72% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, reflecting moderate economic diversity. While per-student spending data is dated (2018-2019 at $8,606), the school's overall performance positions it as a "pocket of excellence" within the district. For parents, this means a stable, high-achieving elementary option with exceptional English and science outcomes, though 5th-grade math may warrant attention as students approach middle school.
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