Summary:
Zip code 36352 in Newton, Alabama, is served by four schools across the Houston County and Dale County districts, enrolling roughly 1,636 students in grades 3 through 12, including two elementary schools, one high school, and one virtual academy.
For families prioritizing academic excellence, Wicksburg Elementary School is the standout choice, earning a 5-star rating for three consecutive years and ranking in the 93rd percentile statewide. Its 3rd grade math proficiency of 94.37% is more than double the state average, and all English scores across grades 3-6 exceed 83%. The school also boasts a remarkably low 1.4% chronic absenteeism rate. Wicksburg High School complements this with a 4-star rating, an 87th percentile ranking, and an exceptional 98.5% graduation rate—7 points above the state average—with particularly strong 8th grade performance in math (70.97%) and science (77.42%). In contrast, Newton Elementary School shows a mixed profile: it excels in 5th grade math (79.55%) but drops sharply to 29.41% in 6th grade math, below the state average, suggesting a possible transition challenge. Houston County Virtual Academy, serving a higher-need population with a 66.67% free/reduced lunch rate, posts the lowest test scores but maintains an 89% graduation rate and a 0.8% chronic absenteeism rate, indicating strong engagement for its virtual learners.
Economic factors clearly influence outcomes, with Wicksburg schools (32-38% free/reduced lunch) outperforming state averages, while Newton (57.68%) performs near average and the Virtual Academy (66.67%) lags. The Virtual Academy's high 27.3:1 student-teacher ratio may also contribute to its challenges. Notably, Wicksburg Elementary has shown remarkable stability, while Wicksburg High dipped from 5 to 4 stars recently. Both districts rank in the top 20% of Alabama, making this zip code a strong option for families seeking high-performing schools, particularly at the elementary level.
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