Summary:
The 35020 zip code area in Alabama is home to 7 schools, including 6 elementary schools and 1 middle school, spread across two school districts - Bessemer City and Jefferson County. While the schools in this area serve a predominantly low-income student population, there are notable differences in academic performance, with some standout schools like Lipscomb Elementary School in Jefferson County outperforming the Bessemer City schools on key metrics.
Lipscomb Elementary stands out as the highest-performing school in the 35020 area, ranking 283 out of 684 Alabama elementary schools and boasting the strongest proficiency rates in math and English. In contrast, the Bessemer City schools generally lag behind state averages, with proficiency rates as low as 12.35% in 3rd grade math. The lone charter school in the area, Empower Community School, also demonstrates mixed results, with high English proficiency but overall performance below state levels.
The data suggests a potential link between funding and student outcomes, as the better-performing Jefferson County schools and Empower Community School spend more per student than the Bessemer City schools. Additionally, the schools with more diverse student populations, such as Lipscomb Elementary and Brighton School, appear to have stronger academic results, raising questions about the role of diversity in educational success. Overall, the 35020 zip code area exhibits significant disparities in educational quality and resources, with some high-performing outliers but also many struggling schools.
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