Summary:
Zip code 36606 in Mobile, Alabama, is served by four public schools—two elementary schools, one high school, and one alternative academy—that together educate roughly 2,379 students and showcase a dramatic range of academic outcomes within a single community.
For parents, the standout option is EicholdMertz School of Math and Science, which ranks #4 in Alabama with a 5-star rating and posts proficiency rates that are 2-3 times higher than district and state averages—88% in 3rd grade math and 97% in 3rd grade English. In stark contrast, SpencerWestlawn Elementary School ranks in the 29th percentile with a 1-star rating, where only 41% of 3rd graders are proficient in math and 50% in English. The achievement gap between these two elementary schools is striking: 4th grade math proficiency is 88% at EicholdMertz versus just 19% at SpencerWestlawn, despite similar per-student spending. Murphy High School sits in the middle, ranking 171st in the state (3 stars) with a graduation rate of 87.2%, and it has shown remarkable improvement—jumping 53 spots in one year with math proficiency rising from 9.65% to 23.96%. Floretta P Carson Visual and Performing Arts Academy, the alternative school, reports zero chronic absenteeism and exceeds state averages in science and 8th grade English, though its math scores remain low.
Poverty levels vary widely, from 38% free/reduced lunch at EicholdMertz to 90% at SpencerWestlawn, but the data shows poverty doesn't guarantee outcomes—Carson Academy (71% poverty) and Murphy High (70% poverty) both outperform expectations in certain subjects. Chronic absenteeism is a concern at Murphy High (20.2%, well above the state's 12%), while EicholdMertz (1.4%) and Carson Academy (0%) excel in attendance. For parents, this zip code offers a true choice: an elite elementary option in EicholdMertz, a high school on an upward trajectory in Murphy, and alternative settings that serve specific needs, all within the Mobile County district.
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