Schools in Zip Code 36783

Zip code 36783, serving the Thomaston area in Marengo County, Alabama, is home to just one school: Amelia L Johnson High School, an alternative school within the Marengo County district that serves students from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade with a total enrollment of 142 students.

For parents considering this school, the most important thing to know is that Amelia L Johnson High School serves a highly economically disadvantaged population, with 83.8% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. The school maintains a favorable 10.1:1 student-teacher ratio and spends $15,738 per student, which is substantially above typical state averages. Despite these resources, academic proficiency lags behind state benchmarks in most subjects, particularly in upper grades. For example, 8th grade math proficiency was 0% compared to 24.53% statewide, and 11th grade English proficiency was 14.29% versus 33.73% statewide. However, there are notable bright spots: 3rd grade English proficiency (58.33%) came within 6.5 points of the state average, and 6th graders actually outperformed state averages in both math (37.5% vs. 33.97%) and English (62.5% vs. 56.81%).

The school presents a mixed picture overall. It achieves a strong 93.7% graduation rate for students who remain enrolled, yet its dropout rate of 16.6% is more than double the district rate and over three times the state rate. Chronic absenteeism, at 10.1%, is actually below the state average of 12.0%, suggesting that attending students are relatively consistent. The school also outperforms its district in a few specific areas, including 5th grade math (36.36% vs. 32.43%) and 4th grade English (50% vs. 48.57%). For parents, this school offers small class sizes and intensive resources, but families should be aware that upper-grade academic achievement, particularly in math and science, remains a significant challenge that may require additional support at home.