Schools in Zip Code 36869

Zip code 36869 in the Phenix City, Alabama area is served by four schools—three elementary schools and one middle school—with a combined enrollment of 1,839 students across the Phenix City and Russell County districts.

For parents, the standout performer in this area is Ladonia Elementary School, which boasts the highest state ranking (362nd of 686) and consistently exceeds state averages in 3rd grade math (46.58% proficient) and 5th grade English (72.86% proficient). Meanwhile, Meadowlane Elementary School is the most improved, nearly doubling its 3rd grade math proficiency from 24% to 47.06% and surging in 5th grade math to 53.85%—well above the state average—despite having the highest poverty rate (83.23% FRPL) and the smallest enrollment (155 students). Ridgecrest Elementary School is the largest school (722 students) but posts more modest scores, with 3rd grade math at 33.06% and 4th grade English at 47.37%. The biggest concern is South Girard School, the only middle school, where just 14.29% of 8th graders are proficient in math—roughly half the state average—and chronic absenteeism is 18.1%, significantly worse than the 12.0% state rate.

Across the elementary schools, English proficiency is consistently stronger than math, with 5th grade English showing a notable spike at all three schools (61-73% proficient). Chronic absenteeism is actually better than the state average at all elementary schools (8.6-9.8%), but the dramatic jump at South Girard suggests a transition problem between elementary and middle school. Per-student spending varies widely within the zip code, with Ladonia ($11,465) and Meadowlane ($11,221) spending roughly $2,700 more per student than Ridgecrest ($8,520) and South Girard ($8,878), which may partly explain performance differences. The elementary-to-middle school academic cliff, combined with high absenteeism at South Girard, points to a critical need for targeted math intervention and family engagement strategies to prevent further regression.