Summary:
Semmes, Alabama (zip code 36575) is home to four schools within the Mobile County district, serving approximately 4,488 students across elementary, middle, and high school levels.
For parents, the standout choice in this area is Semmes Elementary School, which consistently outperforms both district and state averages despite having the smallest enrollment. Its 3rd-grade math proficiency (45.07%) and 4th-grade English proficiency (69.41%) lead the zip code, and its 5th-grade math scores jumped dramatically from 30% to 56.86% in one year. Allentown Elementary School offers solid science performance (53.73% in 4th grade) and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (9.7%), though its overall ranking slipped from 3 stars to 2 stars recently. The middle school years present a clear challenge: Semmes Middle School sees proficiency rates drop sharply compared to elementary levels, with 7th-grade math at just 18.44% and chronic absenteeism at 18.2%—nearly double the state average. Mary G Montgomery High School struggles most academically, with 11th-grade math proficiency at only 15.08%, though it shows positive momentum with English scores improving from 22.49% to 33.73% and a graduation rate of 91.3% that exceeds the district average.
Key takeaways for families: science instruction is a surprising strength across the zip code, with 8th-grade science at Semmes Middle (56.85%) exceeding state averages. The transition from elementary to middle school represents the biggest academic hurdle, suggesting parents should advocate for additional support during this period. Resource allocation appears uneven—Semmes Elementary receives the highest per-student spending ($8,859) and achieves the best outcomes, while Semmes Middle has the lowest spending ($7,927) and highest absenteeism. Given that the entire district ranks in the bottom third of Alabama, the elementary schools' ability to exceed state averages in multiple subjects is particularly noteworthy and suggests these schools are doing more with less.
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