Summary:
Zip code 36560 is home to just one elementary school, Calcedeaver Elementary School, a small rural school serving grades PK through 6 with 240 students in the Mobile County district.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that Calcedeaver is a school of striking contrasts. The 6th grade class is a clear standout, with 70.97% proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA) and 41.94% in math—both well above district and state averages. In fact, 6th grade ELA outperforms the district by over 20 points. However, math is a significant weakness in the lower grades, with 4th grade math proficiency at just 25%, and 3rd grade math dropping from 52.38% to 27.03% in one year. This volatility is common in small schools where a handful of students can swing percentages dramatically. On a positive note, 4th grade science proficiency is 50%, nearly matching the state average and beating the district. The school also outperforms its district in several other areas, including 5th and 6th grade math and 4th grade ELA, despite its overall 2-star state rating (ranked 391st out of 686).
With 71.25% of students receiving free or reduced lunch, Calcedeaver faces significant socioeconomic challenges, yet it still achieves pockets of excellence. Chronic absenteeism is 11.6%, slightly better than the district's 12.8%. The school's per-student spending is $12,691, and its student-to-teacher ratio is 18.1. The dramatic year-over-year swings in test scores—both up and down—suggest that instructional quality may vary by grade and cohort. For parents, this means the school has clear strengths in ELA and science, particularly in 6th grade, but math instruction in the early grades needs attention. The 6th grade success offers a model that could be replicated school-wide.
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