Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 36544

Zip code 36544 in Irvington, Alabama, is home to four elementary schools serving grades PK/K through 5th grade, all part of the Mobile County school district, with a combined enrollment of roughly 1,914 students and a highly consistent socioeconomic profile where 70-71% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

For parents, Anna F Booth Elementary School stands out as the top performer in the area, holding the highest state ranking (249th of 686) and posting exceptional 4th-grade science scores (74.55%) that are nearly 25 points above the state average, along with the strongest overall math proficiency (48.25% average across 3rd-5th grades). Saint Elmo Elementary School is a close second, ranking 296th statewide and leading the area in English proficiency (65.79% average), with particularly strong 5th-grade English scores (75.71%). Pearl Haskew Elementary is the largest school (546 students) and has the best attendance (9.4% chronic absenteeism), but its academic performance has been trending downward, dropping from 331st to 382nd in state rankings. Dixon Elementary School is the weakest overall performer, ranking 443rd with math scores well below district and state averages across all grade levels, though it showed a remarkable 28.6-point jump in 4th-grade science proficiency (from 34.18% to 62.77%).

Several key takeaways emerge from this data. First, all four schools outperform the Mobile County district's overall ranking (33rd percentile), making this area a relative bright spot within the district. Second, spending does not correlate with success—Pearl Haskew spends the most per student ($10,693) yet ranks third, while Anna F Booth spends the second-least ($9,465) and achieves the best results. Third, despite nearly identical poverty levels across all schools, academic outcomes vary dramatically, with Anna F Booth's 4th-grade math proficiency (54.55%) nearly double Dixon's (29.79%), suggesting that instructional quality and school culture matter more than demographics alone. Finally, parents should note the significant year-to-year volatility in test scores, particularly in science, which underscores the importance of examining multi-year trends rather than relying on single-year snapshots when evaluating these schools.