Summary:
Zip code 36305 in Dothan, Alabama, is served by a single elementary school, Highlands Elementary School, which educates students in grades K-5 within the Dothan City school district.
As the only elementary school in this zip code, Highlands Elementary is the definitive option for local families, and it stands out as a strong performer. The school dramatically outperforms its own district across every subject and grade level. For example, in 3rd grade mathematics, 54.02% of students are proficient compared to just 26.71% district-wide, and in 4th grade science, the school’s 67.65% proficiency rate far exceeds the district’s 41.81%. English Language Arts is a particular strength, with all grade levels surpassing state averages by 3.5 to 12.3 percentage points in the 2025-2026 school year. The school also boasts a low chronic absenteeism rate of 8.1%, well below the district’s 13.7% and the state’s 12.0%, suggesting strong family engagement. With a student-teacher ratio of 15.1:1 and per-student spending of $8,606, the school appears to use its resources efficiently to achieve above-average results.
While the school’s state ranking has fluctuated—from 149th in 2023-2024, down to 266th in 2024-2025, and back up to 192nd in 2025-2026—its absolute test scores remain consistently strong. One area to watch is 5th grade mathematics, where proficiency (37.74%) falls slightly below the state average (39.06%), a pattern that was more pronounced the previous year. However, 4th and 5th grade math scores improved substantially year-over-year, indicating possible positive instructional changes. Serving a moderately economically diverse population (38.72% free/reduced lunch), Highlands Elementary achieves above-state-average results in most subjects, making it a highly attractive neighborhood school that likely contributes to the desirability of the 36305 area for families prioritizing academic excellence.
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