Schools in Zip Code 36863

Zip code 36863 in Lanett, Alabama, is served by three schools—W O Lance Elementary, Huguley Elementary School, and Lanett Junior High School—spanning grades K-8 across two districts, with no high school in the area, forcing families to look outside the zip code for grades 9-12.

There is a stark divide between the two districts. Huguley Elementary School, part of Chambers County, is the clear standout, earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 56th percentile statewide. It outperforms state averages in 4th grade English (71% vs. 60%) and math (50% vs. 42%), despite spending less per student ($8,700) than its counterparts. Its chronic absenteeism rate is just 2.4%, five times lower than the state average. In contrast, W O Lance Elementary and Lanett Junior High School, both in Lanett City (ranked 138th of 139 districts), sit in the bottom 5% of Alabama schools. W O Lance ranks in the 2nd percentile with a 0-star rating, and its 5th grade math proficiency is just 5.26% versus the state's 39%. Lanett JHS is even more troubling, with only 1.18% of 7th graders proficient in math and a 15.7% chronic absenteeism rate—the highest in the zip code.

For parents, the takeaway is clear: Huguley Elementary offers a dramatically better educational experience, achieving near-state-average results with lower funding and far better attendance. The Lanett City schools struggle with a math crisis that worsens as students advance, and the transition to middle school brings a sharp decline in performance. While Huguley proves that high achievement is possible in this area, the Lanett City district's resource allocation—spending the most per student ($10,778 at Lanett JHS) yet producing the worst outcomes—suggests that funding alone isn't the answer. Parents should weigh these stark differences carefully when choosing where to enroll their children.