Summary:
Kimberly, Alabama, is home to a single middle school, North Jefferson Middle School, which serves grades 6 through 8 and enrolls 669 students within the Jefferson County school district.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that North Jefferson Middle School is a high-performing school that stands out dramatically from its surrounding district. While Jefferson County as a whole ranks in the bottom third of Alabama districts (1-star rating), this school consistently earns a 4-star rating and ranks in the top 20% of all middle schools in the state (89th out of 443 schools). In nearly every subject and grade level, the school's proficiency rates are 20 to 30 percentage points higher than the district average. For example, in 7th-grade math, the school's proficiency rate (39%) is nearly triple the district's rate (14%). The school's strongest areas are English (with proficiency rates around 65%) and 8th-grade science (64%), while mathematics is the most challenging subject, with proficiency declining from 46% in 6th grade to 31% in 8th grade—though still above state averages.
Several other factors make this school stand out. Its chronic absenteeism rate is remarkably low at 9.8%, compared to 16.9% for the district and 12% for the state, indicating strong student engagement and family involvement. About 35% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, reflecting moderate economic diversity. The school maintains a 20:1 student-teacher ratio and spends $8,218 per student. One notable anomaly occurred in 2024-2025 when 8th-grade math scores dipped to 18% proficiency, well below the state average, but the following year's class rebounded to 31%, suggesting the issue was specific to that cohort rather than a systemic problem. Overall, North Jefferson Middle School offers a stable, consistently high-quality education that far exceeds its district's performance, making it an excellent choice for families in the Kimberly area.
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