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Dunbar Creative Performing Arts

Q: Is Dunbar Creative Performing Arts a good school?

Dunbar Creative Performing Arts ranks 123 rd of 439 Alabama middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades 6-8

123^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 439 Alabama Middle Schools

Better than 72% of Alabama middle schools

Summary

Dunbar Creative Performing Arts is a public magnet middle school in Mobile, Alabama, serving 333 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Mobile County School District, which is ranked 94 out of 135 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Dunbar Creative Performing Arts consistently ranks among the top 25% of middle schools in Alabama, with a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger in most years. The school's performance on state assessments is generally higher than the Mobile County and Alabama averages, particularly in English/Language Arts, where 83% of 8th-grade students were proficient or better in 2024-2025, compared to 51.83% for Mobile County and 54.48% for the state. However, the school's math performance lags behind, with only 15-21% of students proficient or better in 2024-2025, compared to 17.98-24.9% for Mobile County and 24.08-33.97% for the state.

Dunbar Creative Performing Arts outperforms many of the nearby middle schools in the Mobile County district, such as CL Scarborough Model Middle School and Pillans Middle School, particularly in English/Language Arts and for specific student subgroups. However, the school's math performance is generally on par with or slightly lower than the nearby schools, suggesting a need for targeted interventions and support in this subject area. The Denton Magnet School of Technology and Barton Academy For Advanced World Studies, both public magnet schools, consistently outperform Dunbar Creative Performing Arts and other nearby schools across all subject areas and grade levels.

338

Students ?

15.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,458

Per pupil spending ?

69.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

500 Saint Anthony St
Mobile, AL 36603-6123

(251) 221-2160

District: Mobile County

Racial breakdown:

African American:

82.8%

White:

9.8%

Two or more races:

3.6%

See top rated Alabama middle schools

Compare Dunbar Creative Performing Arts to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 86th percentile in 2015 → 72nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Alabama average (49% vs 42% meeting standards)

✓Above the Alabama median (72nd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 14 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school49%

District avg36%

Alabama avg42%

123^rd of 439

Alabama public middle schools ?

Top 28%▼ down 14 pts since 2015

From top 14% (2015) to top 28% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Alabama Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 16Middle Schools in the Mobile County

94^th of 135Mobile County among Alabama districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	64.5	123 of 439	72.0%	★★★★☆
2024	71.1	96 of 442	78.3%	★★★★☆
2023	76.2	75 of 437	82.8%	★★★★☆
2022	63.6	125 of 432	71.1%	★★★★☆
2021	49.5	212 of 440	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	72.7	87 of 437	80.1%	★★★★☆
2018	81.3	60 of 423	85.8%	★★★★☆
2017	82.8	50 of 432	88.4%	★★★★☆
2016	78.1	65 of 432	85.0%	★★★★☆
2015	77.7	62 of 430	85.6%	★★★★☆
2014	76.4	67 of 438	84.7%	★★★★☆
2013	86.6	13 of 436	97.0%	★★★★★
2012	89.2	14 of 436	96.8%	★★★★★
2011	88.1	19 of 435	95.6%	★★★★★
2010	89.2	17 of 435	96.1%	★★★★★
2009	88.3	30 of 425	92.9%	★★★★★
2008	89.3	17 of 417	95.9%	★★★★★
2007	93.0	10 of 412	97.6%	★★★★★
2006	85.2	33 of 409	91.9%	★★★★★
2005	78.7	54 of 415	87.0%	★★★★☆
2004	76.5	73 of 407	82.1%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	80.9	28 of 259	89.2%	★★★★☆
2024	86.6	19 of 269	92.9%	★★★★★
2023	91.5	15 of 263	94.3%	★★★★★
2022	82.8	31 of 271	88.6%	★★★★☆
2021	69.6	54 of 266	79.7%	★★★★☆
2019	89.0	17 of 252	93.3%	★★★★★
2018	94.2	10 of 247	96.0%	★★★★★
2017	92.4	11 of 205	94.6%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	60.6	144 of 415	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.5	106 of 426	75.1%	★★★★☆
2023	75.4	73 of 417	82.5%	★★★★☆
2022	62.4	131 of 423	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.6	212 of 415	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	66.2	104 of 399	73.9%	★★★★☆
2018	75.6	67 of 392	82.9%	★★★★☆
2017	77.9	55 of 380	85.5%	★★★★☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2019	77.4	3 of 25	88.0%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	74.8	73 of 428	82.9%	★★★★☆
2024	80.4	60 of 437	86.3%	★★★★☆
2023	85.5	26 of 410	93.7%	★★★★★
2022	73.5	55 of 421	86.9%	★★★★☆
2021	60.2	140 of 415	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	80.8	39 of 396	90.2%	★★★★★
2018	86.2	22 of 396	94.4%	★★★★★
2017	92.6	11 of 349	96.8%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	68.4	99 of 422	76.5%	★★★★☆
2024	74.4	77 of 428	82.0%	★★★★☆
2023	75.8	71 of 419	83.1%	★★★★☆
2022	61.9	126 of 427	70.5%	★★★★☆
2021	42.8	233 of 418	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	77.0	59 of 399	85.2%	★★★★☆
2018	84.1	40 of 397	89.9%	★★★★★
2017	79.0	55 of 380	85.5%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2018	98.1	2 of 223	99.1%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2024	85.8	43 of 373	88.5%	★★★★☆
2023	85.5	41 of 370	88.9%	★★★★☆
2022	84.7	38 of 376	89.9%	★★★★★
2021	70.1	75 of 369	79.7%	★★★★☆
2019	94.9	15 of 343	95.6%	★★★★★
2018	94.0	20 of 331	94.0%	★★★★★
2017	87.0	22 of 247	91.1%	★★★★★

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Special Education (2018)99th percentile+13 vs school

African American (2025)89th percentile+17 vs school

White (2024)88th percentile+10 vs school

Homeless (2019)88th percentile+8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)83rd percentile+11 vs school

Male (2025)77th percentile+5 vs school

Female (2025)65th percentile-7 vs school

By subject vs Alabama (2024-2025) ?

English73%+17 vs state

Science65%+23 vs state

Mathematics18%-9 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a student
Saturday, December 29, 2012

It's a great school, and I personally LOVED it.
There aren't any problems that I had with the school, and they're very tolerant. They have wide selections for electives, and all of them are interesting and fun.
The teachers are very kind, and they love working with kids and helping kids out.
It's an AMAZING school, and they give you chances to really find and love your talent. Close Quote

Schools Near Dunbar Creative Performing Arts

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				Summative Assessment Mathematics (2025)			Summative Assessment Science (2025)	Summative Assessment English (2025)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Summative Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 8th Grade	Summative Assessment English 6th Grade	Summative Assessment English 7th Grade	Summative Assessment English 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Dunbar Creative Performing Arts	Public, Magnet	6-8	500 Saint Anthony St	Mobile	36603	Mobile County	Mobile County	No	Yes	No	Yes	(251) 221-2160	338	22	15.3	69.8%	33 (9.8%)	280 (82.8%)	8 (2.4%)	3 (0.9%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.6%)	64.5	123^rd of 439 public middle schools	72.0%		71.1	96^th of 442 public middle schools	78.3%	27	22.0	15.6	17.0	65.0	72.4	64.8	83.0	$8,458	$1,071	$7,376
Calloway Smith Middle School	Public	6-8	350 N Lawrence St	Mobile	36603	Mobile County	Mobile County	No	No	No	Yes	(251) 221-2042	315	22	14.3	90.5%	4 (1.3%)	299 (94.9%)	9 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	23.5	338^th of 439 public middle schools	23.0%		21.5	353^rd of 442 public middle schools	20.1%	15	8.0	11.5	13.0	23.2	38.0	45.3	36.5	$8,421	$1,124	$7,254
Barton Academy For Advanced World Studies	Public, Magnet	6-9	504 Government Street	Mobile	36602	Mobile County	Mobile County	No	Yes	No	No	(251) 221-1040	311	19	16.3	20.6%	192 (61.7%)	77 (24.8%)	13 (4.2%)	19 (6.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.9%)	99	2^nd of 439 public middle schools	99.5%		97.3	8^th of 442 public middle schools	98.2%	6	75.0	63.4	63.6	89.6	95.5	95.1	94.8
Booker T Washington Middle School	Public	6-8	1961 Andrews St	Mobile	36617	Mobile County	Mobile County	No	No	No	Yes	(251) 221-2361	270	19	14.2	92.6%	6 (2.2%)	251 (93.0%)	10 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.1%)	14.4	384^th of 439 public middle schools	12.5%		13	389^th of 442 public middle schools	12.0%	5	7.7	1.3	8.8	16.4	29.3	41.0	26.2	$10,926	$1,839	$9,077
Mobile County Training Middle School	Public	6-8	800 Whitley St	Mobile	36610	Mobile County	Mobile County	No	No	No	Yes	(251) 221-2267	193	14	13.7	94.3%	0 (0.0%)	188 (97.4%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.0%)	13.1	398^th of 439 public middle schools	9.3%		9.1	424^th of 442 public middle schools	4.1%	26	10.0	1.5	0.0	11.6	43.3	35.3	20.3	$16,619	$1,912	$14,696
Phillips Preparatory Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	3255 Old Shell Rd	Mobile	36607	Mobile County	Mobile County	No	Yes	No	No	(251) 221-2286	453	34	13.3	43.3%	156 (34.4%)	215 (47.5%)	23 (5.1%)	36 (7.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (5.1%)	95.9	11^th of 439 public middle schools	97.5%		92.1	32^nd of 442 public middle schools	92.8%	21	63.6	40.9	49.2	85.6	87.0	94.0	94.7	$7,903	$690	$7,204
Chickasaw Middle School	Public	7-8	50 Chieftain Way	Chickasaw	36611	Mobile County	Chickasaw City	No	No	No	Yes	(251) 452-2256	143	11	13.6	90.9%	28 (19.6%)	105 (73.4%)	6 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.1%)	14	387^th of 439 public middle schools	11.8%		16.1	374^th of 442 public middle schools	15.4%	13		1.4	6.9	20.8		32.9	23.9	$7,489	$1,450	$6,028
Pillans Middle School	Public	6-8	2051 Military Rd	Mobile	36605	Mobile County	Mobile County	No	No	No	Yes	(251) 221-2300	440	25	17.6	89.8%	21 (4.8%)	384 (87.3%)	20 (4.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.2%)	8	427^th of 439 public middle schools	2.7%		12.1	399^th of 442 public middle schools	9.7%	28	5.9	2.1	1.3	9.3	21.2	23.2	22.4	$10,414	$1,607	$8,796
Acceleration Preparatory Academy	Public, Charter	6-8	3725 Airport Blvd	Mobile	36608	Mobile County	MAEF Public Charter Schools	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(251) 301-0050	322			83.5%	5 (1.6%)	294 (91.3%)	9 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.3%)	8.6	421^st of 439 public middle schools	4.1%		10.9	410^th of 442 public middle schools	7.2%	11	3.9	1.0	1.0	12.1	20.8	26.5	27.3
CL Scarborough Model Middle School	Public	6-8	1800 Phillips Ln	Mobile	36618	Mobile County	Mobile County	No	No	No	Yes	(251) 221-2323	641	33	19.4	86.1%	30 (4.7%)	560 (87.4%)	32 (5.0%)	3 (0.5%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.2%)	19.3	360^th of 439 public middle schools	18.0%		20.1	358^th of 442 public middle schools	19.0%	2	13.9	3.4	5.0	20.4	36.0	45.8	34.9	$11,174	$1,734	$9,382

Frequently Asked Questions about Dunbar Creative Performing Arts

What district is Dunbar Creative Performing Arts in?

Mobile County

Is Dunbar Creative Performing Arts a good school?

Dunbar Creative Performing Arts ranks 123^rd of 439 Alabama middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Dunbar Creative Performing Arts?

In the 2024-25 school year, 338 students attended Dunbar Creative Performing Arts.

What is the racial makeup of Dunbar Creative Performing Arts?

Students at Dunbar Creative Performing Arts are 83% African American, 10% White, 4% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Alabama State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.