Summary:
Zip code 36720, serving the rural community of Alberta, AL, is home to just one school: ABC Elementary, a small Pre-K through 6th grade campus within the Wilcox County district.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that ABC Elementary is a high-poverty school (80.58% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch) that faces significant academic challenges, but it has one remarkable strength: attendance. The school's chronic absenteeism rate is just 1.0%, dramatically better than the district's 14.9% and the state's 12.0%. This means students are consistently showing up to class, which is a strong foundation to build upon. However, test scores are well below state averages in nearly every subject and grade. For example, only 18.18% of 3rd graders are proficient in math compared to 44.89% statewide, and 6th grade English proficiency sits at just 18.18% versus 56.77% statewide. The school has a 1-star state rating and ranks in the 12th percentile of Alabama schools, though this is a slight improvement from the 8th percentile two years ago.
One of the most concerning patterns is the steep decline in performance as students get older. While 3rd graders show 45.45% proficiency in English, that number drops to 18.18% by 6th grade, suggesting learning gaps compound over time. The school's performance relative to its own district is inconsistent—for instance, it outperforms the district in 3rd grade math (18.18% vs. 12.94%) but falls far behind in 4th grade math (15.38% vs. 45.59%). Notably, per-student spending is high at $15,352, likely due to the diseconomies of a very small school, yet this investment hasn't translated into strong academic outcomes. With only 103 students and a 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio, families will find a close-knit environment where attendance is excellent, but academic support and intervention will be critical to reversing the downward trend in proficiency.
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