Summary:
Semmes, Alabama is served by a single middle school, Semmes Middle School, which enrolls 1,181 students in grades 6 through 8 and is part of the Mobile County school district.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that Semmes Middle School shows a clear split in academic performance. The school’s 8th graders are doing notably well, with proficiency rates in Science (56.85%) and English (60.97%) that beat both the district and state averages. These subjects also saw dramatic year-over-year improvements, with 8th-grade Science jumping 14.4 points and English rising 9 points. However, math is a significant weakness at every grade level. Proficiency in 6th-grade math is just 25.13%, which is 10 points below the state average, and 7th and 8th graders also lag behind. This pattern suggests that while the school has found success in certain areas, math instruction or curriculum may need attention.
A major concern for families is chronic absenteeism, which sits at 18.2%—well above the district (12.8%) and state (12.0%) averages. With 62.91% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, the school serves a majority low-income population, and attendance issues may be tied to those socioeconomic challenges. Despite these hurdles, the school’s state ranking has actually improved to 237th out of roughly 440 schools, its best position in three years. The student-teacher ratio is 18.7:1, and per-student spending is $7,927. Overall, Semmes Middle School is a large school with real strengths in 8th-grade Science and English, but parents should be aware of the persistent math gaps and high absenteeism that could impact their child’s experience.
Thank you for your feedback!