Summary:
Zip code 36561 is home to a single elementary school, Orange Beach Elementary School, which serves grades PK through 6 and is part of the highly-rated Orange Beach City school district.
As the only elementary school in this area, Orange Beach Elementary stands out as an exceptional institution. The school has earned a 5-star rating and ranks 9th out of 686 Alabama elementary schools for the 2025-2026 school year, placing it in the 99th percentile statewide. This represents a remarkable upward trajectory, as the school has climbed from 26th place in 2023-2024 to 11th in 2024-2025, and now to 9th. Academically, the school far exceeds state averages in every subject and grade level, with proficiency gaps ranging from 25 to nearly 50 percentage points. For example, 4th-grade math proficiency is 89.41% compared to the state average of 42.07%, and 4th-grade science proficiency is 95.29% versus the state's 50.23%. English proficiency is notably consistent across all grades, ranging narrowly from 90.12% to 94.67%, suggesting a strong, vertically-aligned literacy program.
Beyond test scores, the school demonstrates excellence in other key areas. Chronic absenteeism is just 4.1%, which is one-third of the state average (12.0%) and half the district average (8.2%), indicating a strong attendance culture. The student-to-teacher ratio of 14.6:1 is favorable for individualized instruction, and only 19.33% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch. While 3rd-grade math (76.92%) is the relative weakest subject, the school showed significant improvement in 6th-grade math, jumping 9.26 points year-over-year to 81.48%. Overall, Orange Beach Elementary is an elite-performing school that combines high academic achievement, low absenteeism, and consistent improvement, making it an excellent choice for families in the 36561 area.
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