Summary:
Zip code 36545 in Jackson, Alabama, is served by two elementary schools within the Clarke County district, together educating roughly 671 students across Pre-K through 5th grade in a community where about three-quarters of families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
For parents comparing the two schools, Jackson Intermediate School (grades 3-5) offers the only standardized test data and shows a clear split between subjects: English proficiency is a relative strength, with 5th graders reaching 63-66% proficiency—nearly matching the state average—while math proficiency lags badly, sitting at just 25-28% across all grades. The most alarming trend is a 24.6-point drop in 5th grade math proficiency from 52.5% to 27.9% in one year, alongside a state ranking decline from 430th to 505th. Meanwhile, Joe M Gillmore Elementary School (Pre-K-2) has no test data but posts a chronic absenteeism rate of 13.8%—well above the district's 8.6% and the state's 12.0%—while Jackson Intermediate's absenteeism is a healthier 7.4%. Gillmore also spends about $1,134 more per student and maintains a better student-teacher ratio (15.9:1 vs. 19.8:1), reflecting the higher staffing needs of early grades.
The overarching picture is of a high-poverty area where English instruction outperforms math by roughly double at every grade level, suggesting a systemic math challenge rather than a cohort issue. The district itself ranks in the 23rd percentile statewide with a 1-star rating, though Jackson Intermediate's 5th grade math actually exceeds the district average. The most urgent concerns are the dramatic math decline and the elevated absenteeism at the primary school, which may signal early learning gaps that could follow students into intermediate grades. Parents should note that no early-grade academic data exists for Gillmore, making it difficult to assess foundational skill development before third grade.
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