Middle Schools in Jefferson County

The 11 middle schools located in Jefferson County, Alabama serve students in grades 6-8 and vary significantly in their academic performance, student demographics, and resource allocation. While some schools, like Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School, consistently rank among the top in the state, others struggle with low proficiency rates and high rates of economic disadvantage.

The data reveals stark performance gaps between the highest and lowest-performing schools. For example, in 8th grade math, Jefferson County International Baccalaureate had a 48.62% proficiency rate, while Erwin Middle School had only 3.01% proficiency. This disparity appears to be correlated with student demographics, as the top-performing schools tend to have higher percentages of white and Asian students, while the lower-performing schools serve larger populations of African American and Hispanic students. Resource disparities, such as wide ranges in per-student spending and student-teacher ratios, may also contribute to these achievement gaps.

Despite the challenges faced by some schools, the data also highlights opportunities for improvement. By identifying and replicating the practices of the highest-performing schools, such as Bragg Middle School and Corner Middle School, the district could work to raise academic achievement and provide more equitable opportunities for all students in Jefferson County.