Summary:
Zip code 36578 in Stapleton, Alabama, is served by a single elementary school, Stapleton School, which enrolls 203 students across grades PK through 6 as part of the Baldwin County district.
For parents considering this area, Stapleton School offers a notably small, intimate learning environment with a favorable 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio. The school’s strongest academic area is English, where 5th graders achieve 80% proficiency—outpacing both the district (76.7%) and state (69.53%)—and 4th grade science proficiency (68.75%) also exceeds district and state averages by roughly 9 and 18 points, respectively. However, mathematics is a clear weakness, particularly in 6th grade, where only 21.74% of students are proficient compared to 44.41% in the district and 35.22% statewide. There is also a concerning pattern of declining performance in upper grades: English proficiency drops from 80% in 5th grade to 56.52% in 6th grade, while math falls from 45% to 21.74% over the same transition. The school’s chronic absenteeism rate (9.7%) is better than both the district (11.2%) and state (12.0%), indicating strong attendance habits among students.
One important caveat for parents is the significant year-over-year volatility in test scores, likely due to the small cohort sizes. For example, 3rd grade math plummeted from 77.42% proficiency in 2024-2025 to 50% in 2025-2026, while 6th grade English dropped from 89.47% to 56.52% in the same period. This means single-year results can be misleading, and a particularly strong or weak class can dramatically shift percentages. Despite these swings, the school improved its state ranking from 269th (2023-2024) to 217th (2024-2025), though it slipped to 241st in 2025-2026. With per-student spending of $13,754 and a better-than-average attendance record, Stapleton School has solid resources and engagement, but parents should be aware that math support, especially for upper elementary students, may be needed.
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