Schools in Zip Code 26151

Zip code 26151 is served by a single school, Calhoun Middle/High School, which is part of the Calhoun County Schools district and educates students in grades 5 through 12 with a total enrollment of 498 students.

For parents in this area, the most important thing to know is that Calhoun Middle/High School presents a striking paradox. On one hand, it boasts an exceptional graduation rate of 98.3%, which is more than five points above the state average of 92.8%. On the other hand, its academic proficiency scores are significantly below state averages across all subjects: only 26.4% of students are proficient in math (state: 39.4%), 35.9% in English Language Arts (state: 47.6%), and 21.0% in science (state: 29.3%). The school's state ranking has also been volatile, dropping to last place (112th out of 112) in 2023-2024 before recovering slightly to 101st out of 105 in 2025-2026, where it currently holds a 0-star rating. The student-teacher ratio of 13.1 is favorable, suggesting smaller class sizes that could allow for more individualized attention.

The most concerning trend is a dramatic drop in performance between 5th and 6th grade. In 5th grade, students excel, with 67.5% proficiency in math (23.5 points above the state) and 60% in ELA (9 points above the state). However, by 6th grade, proficiency plummets to just 11.9% in math and 19.1% in ELA. This decline continues through high school, with 11th graders showing only 9.9% proficiency in math and 11.5% in science—less than half the state average. While the school clearly succeeds at getting students to graduation, the low test scores, especially in upper grades, raise serious questions about whether graduates are truly prepared for college or careers. The 5th-grade cohort stands out as a clear bright spot and a potential model for what is working in the elementary program.