Flat Rock School to close

Clarion Top News

Wednesday, 02 April 2025 11:42

The Jackson County Board of Education recently voted to close Flat Rock School. Similar to the Board’s decision seven years ago to close Paint Rock Valley School, the decision was based on enrollment numbers in part. The decision came a little over a week after Jackson County Board of Education officials and members met with citizens and parents of children who attend Flat Rock School.

Enrollment at the school has declined significantly over the years.

A five-year trend at the school shows Pre-K with 15 students; Kindergarten with seven students; 1st Grade with seven students; 2nd Grade with seven students; 3rd Grade with 15 students; 4th Grade with four students; 5th Grade with six students and 6th Grade with 12 students.

In Alabama, the Average Daily Membership or ADM, determines the amount of funding the Alabama Department of Education provides to schools. The ADM is calculated by the average number of students within the first 20 days of school. Through the last five years, Flat Rock School has seen a decrease in funding. The higher a school’s ADM, the lower the operating cost per student will be for that school. In 2022, Flat Rock’s 20-Day ADM was 121 with a cost of $12,663.39 per student. In 2024, the 20-Day ADM of the school dropped to 98. The operating cost per student was $16,428.88. For this school year, the school was expected to have an ADM of 62. This year, Flat Rock was budgeted for an ADM of 62, a cost of $27,037.23 per student.