Summary:
Schools in zip code 36477 (Samson, AL) serve approximately 700 students across three public schools—Samson Elementary School (PK-5), Samson Middle School (6-8), and Samson High School (9-12)—all part of the Geneva County district, which holds a 4-star rating and ranks in the 71st percentile statewide.
Each school has a distinct strength. Samson High School stands out for exceptional student engagement, with a chronic absenteeism rate of just 4.9%—far better than the state average of 12.0%—and a strong 95.6% graduation rate. Samson Elementary School excels in English Language Arts, with 72.34% of 5th graders and 66.67% of 3rd graders proficient, both exceeding state averages. Samson Middle School shows the most dramatic improvement in 8th-grade science, jumping from 25% to 36.21% proficiency year-over-year. However, math is a consistent weakness across all three schools, with proficiency rates well below state averages in nearly every grade—for example, only 19.15% of 5th graders are proficient in math versus the state's 39.06%.
Notably, the high school spends the most per student ($11,623) yet has the lowest relative academic performance, while the middle school has the highest student-teacher ratio (19.5) and has seen its state ranking decline for three straight years. The district's strong overall rating appears driven by other schools in the county, as the Samson schools generally trail district and state averages in core subjects. With roughly two-thirds of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, these schools serve a high-need population, making the high school's attendance and graduation achievements particularly impressive—even as academic proficiency remains an area for targeted improvement.
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