Summary:
The city of Decatur, Alabama is home to three middle schools: Decatur Middle School, Austin Middle School, and Priceville Junior High School. These schools serve students in grades 6-8 and are located within the Decatur City and Morgan County school districts.
Among the three middle schools, Priceville Junior High School stands out as a high-performing institution. It has consistently ranked among the top 23-48 middle schools in Alabama, earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger in the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years. Priceville Junior High School's test scores are significantly higher than the Decatur City and Alabama state averages, particularly in mathematics and English language arts. In contrast, Decatur Middle School and Austin Middle School have lower rankings and performance metrics compared to Priceville Junior High School, with both schools rated 2 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger and lower proficiency rates in mathematics and English compared to the state averages.
The data also reveals some interesting differences among the three middle schools. Priceville Junior High School has a lower percentage of free and reduced lunch recipients (42.94%) compared to Decatur Middle School (63.64%) and Austin Middle School (76.44%), suggesting potential socioeconomic disparities. Additionally, Priceville Junior High School has the lowest spending per student at $7,526, while Decatur Middle School and Austin Middle School spend $11,092 and $10,392 per student, respectively. These findings suggest that factors beyond just funding and staffing levels may be influencing the schools' academic outcomes.
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