Summary:
The 35481 zip code area is home to two schools - Pickens County High School and Reform Elementary School. Both schools serve predominantly African American student populations and face significant challenges, including dramatic declines in statewide rankings, low proficiency rates, and high rates of economic disadvantage among their students.
Pickens County High School has seen a concerning drop in its statewide ranking, plummeting from 94th out of 367 Alabama high schools in 2021-2022 to 311th out of 378 in 2023-2024. In contrast, Reform Elementary School has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Alabama elementary schools, suggesting it may be struggling compared to its peers. Both schools have very low proficiency rates, particularly in mathematics, and high free/reduced lunch rates, indicating a significant level of economic disadvantage among their student populations.
The data also reveals that the schools in this area face resource challenges, with Pickens County High School spending $13,001 per student and Reform Elementary School spending $11,280 per student. Additionally, the student-teacher ratios are relatively high, at 16.4 and 15.6 respectively, which may limit the individualized attention and support available to students. Addressing these resource and staffing challenges, as well as the root causes of the low academic performance, will be crucial for improving outcomes in these Pickens County schools.
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