Schools in Zip Code 36480

Zip code 36480, serving the rural community of Uriah, Alabama, is home to just one school: J U Blacksher School, a PK-12 institution with 747 students that functions as the sole educational provider for the area.

As the only school in this zip code, J U Blacksher School serves every grade level from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, making it a comprehensive community school despite its "Alternative" designation. The school shows notable strengths in specific areas: 8th grade science proficiency reached 70.37% in 2025-2026, dramatically outperforming both the Monroe County district (50.72%) and the state (54.12%). English language arts is also a relative bright spot, with 5th grade students achieving 75.61% proficiency versus the state average of 69.53%, and 3rd grade English scores reaching 78% in 2024-2025. However, mathematics is a significant concern across nearly all grade levels—7th grade math proficiency was just 4.48% in 2024-2025 and only improved to 13.21% the following year, compared to a state average of 24.46%. The school also struggles with a graduation rate of 78.8% versus the state's 91.5%, and chronic absenteeism at 20.2% is nearly double the state average of 12.0%.

Performance patterns are inconsistent across grade levels, suggesting possible curriculum alignment issues or varying teacher effectiveness. While elementary grades show promise in English and 8th grade science has improved remarkably (up 17.83 points year-over-year), 11th grade performance lags significantly in English (21.54% vs. 33.73% state) and science (21.54% vs. 36.17% state). With 53.82% of students receiving free/reduced lunch and per-student spending at $7,869, the school faces socioeconomic challenges common to rural communities. Parents considering this school should recognize its strengths in early education and specific subjects while being aware of the math proficiency gaps and high school performance declines that may require supplemental support.