The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in English language arts. The lowest is 6% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Girard Intermediate School
Girard Intermediate School serves third through sixth grade students in the Dothan City district. It is a regular public school located on Girard Avenue in Dothan, Alabama. Dothan is the commercial and transportation hub of southeastern Alabama, with an economy built on healthcare, manufacturing, poultry processing, and its role as the self-described Peanut Capital of the World. The city is spread out and car-dependent, typical of a Sun Belt community. The school sits within that broader context, drawing from the neighborhoods around Girard Avenue.
The student body of roughly three hundred children is predominantly Black, with a smaller share of white students and a modest Hispanic representation. A very high share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a population with substantial economic need. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the records reviewed, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
Academic performance on Alabama’s state assessments is a clear area of concern. In the most recent testing year, achievement in both math and reading was low for the sixth-grade cohort tested. Math proficiency was particularly weak, with only a small fraction of students meeting the bar. English language arts scores were higher but still well below what most families would expect. For fourth-grade science, the performance was similarly low, with very few students scoring proficient. When compared to other schools across Houston County, Girard Intermediate’s overall proficiency index fell in the bottom quartile, well below the midpoint of the small set of schools measured. Only a single year of assessment data is available, so there is no trend to judge whether these results represent a decline or a continuation.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Chronic absenteeism data and discipline records were also absent from the files provided. Without those figures, it is hard to assess how consistent attendance is or what the school’s behavioral climate looks like. A parent considering Girard Intermediate may want to visit and speak with staff about those aspects directly.
Housing in the zip code around the school is priced modestly relative to national medians, and the estimated monthly mortgage payment is lower than the typical rent, which aligns with the area’s reputation for affordable housing. The national unemployment rate has been stable around four percent, and real median household income nationally has edged upward, though these are broad indicators rather than local specifics.
No recent district-level changes, referendums, or program shifts were reported in the research available. The Dothan City district has emphasized affordable housing and a pro-business climate in its public materials, but no concrete updates on curriculum, budgets, or facilities were found.
For a family weighing this school, the central facts are the deep poverty in the student population and the very low state test results in math, reading, and science. The school is a regular intermediate school with no specialized magnet or charter status, and it operates within a city that offers a range of civic anchors, a regional airport, and a diverse employer base. The academic picture is the dominant feature, and any family evaluating Girard Intermediate should investigate further what interventions, supports, and instructional approaches the school uses to address the proficiency gaps shown in the state data.
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