Summary:
The 36320 zip code area is home to two schools - Cottonwood Elementary School and Cottonwood High School, both part of the Houston County school district. While Cottonwood Elementary consistently performs well, with students scoring above state averages in math and English, Cottonwood High School struggles academically, with 11th-grade students scoring below state averages in core subjects.
Cottonwood Elementary School stands out as a strong performer, ranking in the top 30% of Alabama elementary schools and earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school boasts a relatively low chronic absenteeism rate of 14.8% and a student-teacher ratio of 16.3. In contrast, Cottonwood High School has a graduation rate of 90%, which is above the state average, but its academic performance lags behind, with students scoring below state and district averages in math, science, and English.
Both schools serve a high-needs student population, with over 68% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. This suggests the schools may face unique challenges in supporting the academic and social-emotional needs of their students. Addressing attendance issues, which appear to be a systemic problem in the area, could be a valuable focus for the district to improve student learning and achievement across both schools.
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