Summary:
Zip code 36455, serving the Lockhart area of Alabama, is home to just one school: WS Harlan Elementary School, a PK-6 elementary school with 293 students in the Covington County district.
For parents considering this area, WS Harlan Elementary School is a school on a clear upward trajectory. Its state ranking has improved dramatically over three years, climbing from the 36th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 54th percentile in 2025-2026, and its star rating has risen from 2 to 3 stars. The school's most impressive asset is attendance: a chronic absenteeism rate of just 1.3% is far below the district's 6.9% and the state's 12.0%, suggesting strong family engagement and a positive school climate. Academically, the school shines in the early grades, with 3rd grade English proficiency at 78.79% and 3rd grade math at 51.52%, both exceeding state averages. Sixth grade math is also a standout at 58.14% proficiency, well above the state's 35.22%.
However, there is a notable weakness that parents should be aware of: a persistent "5th grade math cliff." Only 14.29% of 5th graders are proficient in math, a figure that has remained consistently low for two straight years and trails the state average by nearly 25 percentage points. This is particularly striking given the strong performance in 3rd and 6th grade math, suggesting a specific instructional or curriculum issue at that grade level. English proficiency generally outpaces math across all grades, though the school lags its district in 4th and 5th grade English. Serving a population where 63% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, the school still achieves above-state results in several key metrics, making it a solid choice for families seeking a small, improving school with excellent attendance, provided they are mindful of the 5th grade math challenge.
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