Summary:
Semmes, Alabama is served by four public schools within the Mobile County district, which ranks in the bottom third of Alabama districts, and includes two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school serving a total of roughly 4,500 students.
For parents, the standout choice is Semmes Elementary School, which is the only school in the area to maintain a 3-star rating for three consecutive years. It leads the district in English proficiency, with 5th graders hitting 70.53% (above the state average), and its 4th grade English scores are nearly 17 points above the district average. It also spends the most per student ($8,859) and achieves the best results. Allentown Elementary School shows promise in specific areas—like 5th grade math at 46.36% in 2024-2025—but its scores are inconsistent, with a sharp decline in math the following year. The biggest concern is Mary G Montgomery High School, which has a commendable 91.3% graduation rate and matches the state average in English, but its math proficiency is alarmingly low at just 15.08%, nearly 12 points below the state average. Semmes Middle School is the weakest link, with the lowest per-student spending ($7,927), the highest chronic absenteeism (18.2%), and the steepest academic declines.
The most striking pattern is the achievement cliff between elementary and middle school. While elementary schools post English proficiency rates of 54-71%, middle school scores drop to 43-61%, and math falls from 28-45% to just 18-25%. This transition is a critical intervention point. On the positive side, science is a hidden strength across all schools, with middle school 8th grade science (56.85%) and elementary 4th grade science (50-53.73%) meeting or exceeding state averages. English is also a consistent bright spot, suggesting strong literacy instruction that could be leveraged to boost math performance. For parents, the data suggests that elementary education in Semmes is solid, but be prepared for a challenging middle school transition and significant math struggles at the high school level.
Thank you for your feedback!