Summary:
Zip code 36561, encompassing Orange Beach, Alabama, is served by the Orange Beach City school district, which includes just two schools—Orange Beach Elementary School (grades PK-6) and Orange Beach Middle/High School (grades 7-12)—together educating about 1,262 students in a district ranked #3 out of 139 in Alabama.
Both schools are top performers, each earning 5-star ratings and ranking in the top 3% of their respective categories statewide. Orange Beach Elementary School is the standout for consistency, ranking #9 among 686 elementary schools and showing steady improvement over three years. It posts exceptional proficiency rates—often 30 to 50 points above state averages—with 4th-grade science at 95.29% and 5th-grade math at 88%. Its chronic absenteeism is remarkably low at 4.1%. Orange Beach Middle/High School ranks #9 among 380 high schools and boasts a perfect 100% graduation rate. Its 8th-grade science proficiency (95.37%) nearly doubles the state average, and 11th-grade math improved significantly to 57.02%. However, the middle/high school shows more variability, particularly a dramatic drop in 7th-grade math to 30.10%—down from 66.67% the prior year—and a higher chronic absenteeism rate of 11.6%.
For parents, the key takeaway is that this district offers an elite educational environment with strong science programs across all grade levels and favorable student-teacher ratios around 15:1. The elementary school delivers more uniform excellence, while the middle/high school has clear strengths (science, graduation) alongside a notable math challenge in 7th grade that may warrant attention. With only about 19% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, the area is relatively affluent, and the district's performance reflects both this advantage and effective instruction. Overall, families can expect high academic standards, but should monitor the transition into middle school math closely.
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