Dallas County, AL - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Dallas County

Dallas County Schools serves a broad rural area in Alabama's Black Belt, covering grades PK through 12 across a dozen schools. The district includes elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and a career technical center. The student body is predominantly Black, with a smaller share of white students and a modest number of students identifying as two or more races. The district's enrollment is spread across a wide geographic area, with schools in communities such as Selma, Plantersville, Marion Junction, Orrville, and others. Housing values in the county vary considerably by location, with some areas showing modest appreciation and others slight declines, but overall the market is affordable relative to state and national benchmarks.

State testing results from the most recent year show a clear pattern. In English language arts, proficiency rates across grades 3 through 8 range from roughly a third to just over half of students meeting the bar, with the highest rate in third grade and a drop-off in the middle grades. In math, the numbers are much lower, with proficiency rates in the single digits or low teens across most tested grades, and a particularly steep decline by eighth grade. Science results, available for grades 4 and 8, show about one in six students proficient. These are the only state assessment data available for the district, and they represent a single year, so no trend can be established. A parent looking at these results will want to ask the district how it is addressing math and science instruction, and what supports are in place for students who are not yet meeting benchmarks.

The district serves a student population that is predominantly Black, with a smaller white enrollment and a modest share of students identifying as two or more races. Asian, Hispanic, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students each make up a very small fraction of the student body. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, receiving special education services, or classified as English learners were not available in the source data, so a family cannot assess the district's economic or special-needs profile from this information alone.

The district operates a dozen schools, including a career technical center. The presence of a dedicated career technical center is a notable strength, offering students a pathway to develop job-ready skills alongside their academic coursework. The district's high schools include Dallas County High School, Keith Middle High School, and Southside High School. Middle schools include Tipton Durant Middle School and William R Martin Middle School. Elementary schools are spread across the county, including Brantley, JE Terry, Salem, Southside Primary, Valley Grande, and Bruce K Craig.

Housing in the district is affordable by national standards, with home values varying widely by location. Some areas show modest appreciation, while others have seen slight declines. The county's median household income is below the national figure, and the unemployment rate is above the national average. These economic conditions are relevant context for families considering a move to the area.

The district brief turned up no parent-relevant changes with lasting impact in recent years, so there is no recent policy shift, boundary change, or program launch to report. The comparison fact-set could not place the district against others in Dallas County because it is the only district in the county, so no relative positioning is available. A family evaluating this district will want to visit individual schools, talk to principals about academic support and enrichment offerings, and look into the career technical center's programs directly.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

2,331

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 1%

Black 79%

White 14%

Asian 0%

Two+ 5%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

50%

—

Gr 4

32%

—

Gr 5

42%

—

Gr 6

33%

—

Gr 7

29%

—

Gr 8

29%

—

Math

Gr 3

19%

—

Gr 4

10%

—

Gr 5

16%

—

Gr 6

—

Gr 7

—

Gr 8

—

Science

Gr 4

14%

—

Gr 8

16%

—

Schools in this District

12 schools are officially reported under this district.

Brantley Elementary School

Dallas County High School

JE Terry Elementary School

Keith MiddleHigh School

Salem Elementary School

Southside High School

Southside Primary School

Tipton Durant Middle School

Valley Grande Elementary School

William R Martin Middle School

Dallas County Career Technical Center

Bruce K Craig Elementary School

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

20%

Grade 3

10%

Grade 4

16%

Grade 5

10%

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

53%

Grade 3

33%

Grade 4

43%

Grade 5

37%

Grade 6

30%

Grade 7

35%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

15%

Grade 4

19%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$116,667

Year-over-year change+1.1%

Range across 10 ZIP codes$64K to $189K

vs. state typical0.49x

vs. national typical0.32x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (10 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
36759	Marion Junction	$135K	+3.5%	17.6%
36701	Selma	$99K	+1.5%	17.3%
36767	Orrville	$89K	-2.5%	15.4%
36761	Minter	$152K	-2.8%	15.1%
36775	Sardis	$102K	+2.2%	10.6%
36703		$64K	+3.3%	9.2%
36773	Safford	$147K	-0.0%	6.5%
36785		$143K	+4.5%	4.5%
36758	Plantersville	$163K	+6.3%	2.6%
36749	Jones	$189K	+8.7%	1.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$589/mo

Home price / national median income1.4x

Comparison

State typical home value$236,705 (+1.2% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.