Summary:
Zip code 36455, serving the Lockhart area of Alabama, is home to just one elementary school, WS Harlan Elementary School, which serves grades PK through 6 within the Covington County district.
As the only school in the area, WS Harlan is the clear focal point for families. The school has shown a remarkable upward trajectory, jumping from the 36th percentile in state rankings in 2023-2024 to the 54th percentile in 2025-2026—an 18-point improvement in just two years. This progress is especially visible in 4th-grade math, where proficiency nearly doubled from 22.5% to 45.95%. The school also boasts an exceptional chronic absenteeism rate of just 1.3%, far better than the district's 6.9% and the state's 12.0%, which is particularly impressive given that 63% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. With a student-teacher ratio of 15.8:1 and per-student spending of $10,131, the school operates efficiently while delivering strong results in several areas.
However, there are clear areas of concern. The most glaring issue is 5th-grade mathematics, where only 14.29% of students are proficient—nearly 25 points below the state average of 39.06%. This weakness persisted from the previous year, suggesting a systemic problem at that grade level. Additionally, while early grades excel—3rd-grade English proficiency is 78.79%, well above the state's 64.75%—performance tends to erode by 6th grade, where English proficiency drops to 55.81%. English consistently outperforms math across all grades, with a 27-point gap in 3rd grade. For parents, this means the school offers a strong foundation in literacy and early learning, but families should be aware of the math challenges in upper grades, particularly 5th grade, and may want to supplement instruction at home or advocate for additional support in that area.
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