Summary:
The city of Jasper, Alabama, is served by 9 schools across two districts—Jasper City and Walker County—covering grades PK-12 with a total enrollment of roughly 4,800 students and moderate-to-high economic need (free/reduced lunch rates between 46% and 58%).
Families will find a clear performance divide between the two districts. Memorial Park Elementary School is a historic standout, having ranked 20th in the state in 2016-2017 and currently exceeding state averages in 3rd-grade math (+12 points) and English (+5 points). Maddox Intermediate School is a hidden gem, beating state averages by nearly 17 points in 4th-grade math and 11 points in English. Jasper Junior High School consistently ranks in the 81st-85th percentile, with 7th-grade English 14 points above the state. Jasper High School leads at the secondary level with a 93.8% graduation rate and strong science proficiency. In contrast, Curry High School has plummeted from the 75th to the 25th percentile in two years, with 11th-grade math at just 9.5% (state: 27.2%) and English at 18.5% (state: 33.7%). Curry Middle School and Valley Junior High School also lag, though Valley excels in early-grade science (75% in 4th grade) and has the lowest chronic absenteeism (7.9%).
The most pressing issue is a systemic middle-school math decline—for example, Valley's 3rd-grade math at 35% drops to just 4% by 7th grade, and Curry Middle sees a similar slide. Chronic absenteeism is also concerning at the secondary level, with Jasper High at 19.6% and Curry Middle at 17.7%, both well above the state's 12%. Encouragingly, per-student spending does not predict success: Jasper Junior High spends the least ($6,596) yet performs well, while Jasper High spends the most ($12,720) without outperforming peers. For parents, Jasper City schools offer the strongest overall academics, while Walker County schools—especially Curry High—require closer scrutiny, particularly around math instruction and attendance.
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