Schools in Zip Code 36526

Zip code 36526 (Daphne, Alabama) is home to 7 schools within the Baldwin County district, serving approximately 5,899 students across elementary, middle, and high school levels in a community that consistently outperforms state averages.

This is an exceptionally strong educational area. Belforest Elementary School stands out as the top academic performer, ranking in the 88th percentile statewide with 86.41% of 5th graders proficient in English and the lowest chronic absenteeism (7.2%) among local elementary schools. Daphne High School is the area's premier traditional high school, ranked 19th of 380 in Alabama (95th percentile) with a 5-star rating and an 88.7% graduation rate. Meanwhile, Baldwin County Virtual School is a hidden gem—ranked 31st of 380 high schools with near-zero chronic absenteeism (1.1%) and exceptional 8th grade science scores (87.23% proficiency)—though its graduation rate lags at 74.7%. Among elementary schools, Daphne East Elementary School and Daphne Elementary School also perform well, with 3rd grade English proficiency ranging from 80-82.39% across all three, far exceeding the state's 64.75%.

The most notable concern is a dramatic middle school math slump: proficiency drops from 48-68% in elementary to just 32.91-39.95% at Daphne Middle School and W J Carroll Intermediate School, before recovering to 48.5% by 11th grade. Chronic absenteeism at Daphne High (15.3%) exceeds state averages, and socioeconomic disparities exist—Belforest (23.95% free/reduced lunch) outperforms Daphne Elementary (44.11%) by 7-10 points in math. However, the overall picture is one of excellence: every school beats state proficiency averages, science scores improved dramatically year-over-year (including a +22.65 point jump at the virtual school), and students experience increasingly competitive schools as they advance, culminating in a top-5% high school experience.