Summary:
Zip code 36456 is home to just one school, McKenzie High School, a Pre-K through 12th grade institution in the small, rural community of McKenzie, Alabama, serving 487 students within the Butler County district.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that this single school is a standout performer, especially when compared to its own district. Despite being classified as an "alternative" school, McKenzie High School achieves a perfect 100% graduation rate, far exceeding the district's 90.8% and the state's 91.5%. It also has remarkably low chronic absenteeism at just 8.0%, compared to 21.4% district-wide. Academically, the school consistently outperforms both the district and state averages in nearly every grade and subject. For example, 8th-grade English proficiency is 81.25% at McKenzie versus just 44.30% for the district, and 11th-grade math proficiency jumped dramatically from 8.33% to 38.46% in one year. The most impressive gains were seen in 11th grade across all subjects, with English proficiency soaring from 5.56% to 52.00%. While the school serves a majority low-income population (55.44% on free/reduced lunch), it still achieves results that exceed state benchmarks, suggesting effective teaching and a strong school culture.
The school's strongest performance is in the elementary grades, with 3rd-grade English at 80% proficiency and 4th-grade math at 75.68%. However, there is a noticeable dip in middle school math, with 7th-grade proficiency at 28.57%. While the dramatic 11th-grade improvements are encouraging, it is worth monitoring whether these gains are sustainable or reflect a particularly strong cohort. Overall, McKenzie High School is a hidden gem within a struggling district, delivering outsized results with modest resources ($9,181 per student) and a 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It is a model for rural schools facing similar demographic challenges, though parents should watch early-grade math trends to ensure those strengths are maintained.
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