Summary:
Zip code 36607 in Mobile, AL, is home to just 2 schools—Old Shell Road Magnet School (grades K-5) and Phillips Preparatory Middle School (grades 6-8)—serving 822 students in a compact K-8 pipeline within the Mobile County district.
Both schools are standout performers, ranking in the top 10 statewide despite their district sitting in the bottom third of Alabama. Old Shell Road Magnet School is the elementary powerhouse, ranked #6 out of 686 schools with a 5-star rating for three straight years. Its 5th graders hit 100% proficiency in English, and 3rd graders scored 94.8% in math—about 50 points above the state average. Phillips Preparatory Middle School is equally impressive, ranked #10 out of 443 middle schools and improving from #32 just two years ago. Its 8th graders achieved 88.2% in science and 91.7% in English, while math proficiency (44.4% in 8th grade) is the only weak spot, though still well above district and state levels. Across nearly every subject and grade, both schools outperform their district by 30-50 percentage points, making them a clear choice for families seeking academic excellence.
Attendance and engagement are exceptional: chronic absenteeism is just 3-4% at both schools, compared to 12-13% district and state averages, even though 43-53% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch. Old Shell Road has a slightly higher student-teacher ratio (14.8:1) and spends more per student ($9,458) than Phillips Prep ($7,903, 13.3:1), yet both deliver top-tier results. Together, they form a seamless K-8 pathway where students can transition without leaving the zip code, maintaining high standards from kindergarten through 8th grade. For parents, this area offers two elite, magnet-style schools that consistently rank among the best in Alabama—a rare find in a district with otherwise modest performance.
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