Middle Schools in Dallas County

There are two middle schools in the Dallas County district in Alabama—William R Martin Middle School (grades 7-8) and Tipton Durant Middle School (grades 6-8)—serving a high-poverty area where the district ranks in the bottom 10% statewide.

If you are comparing the two, William R Martin Middle School is the clear standout. It ranks 318th out of 443 Alabama middle schools (28th percentile), while Tipton Durant Middle School sits near the very bottom at 436th (2nd percentile). Martin outperforms Tipton Durant by 20-30 percentage points in English and 13-29 points in math. For example, 52.5% of Martin’s 7th graders are proficient in English, nearly matching the state average of 55.3%, while Tipton Durant’s 7th grade English proficiency is just 23.2%. In 8th grade science, Martin hits 42% proficiency versus Tipton Durant’s 12.7%. Math is a crisis at both schools—Tipton Durant recorded 0% proficiency in 7th and 8th grade math, and Martin’s 8th grade math is only 6.2%.

Chronic absenteeism is a major red flag: 35.7% of Martin students and 28.8% of Tipton Durant students are chronically absent, roughly 2-3 times the state average of 12%. Notably, Tipton Durant spends $13,056 per student—36% more than Martin’s $9,601—yet achieves far worse results, suggesting money alone isn’t solving the problem. Martin has also slipped from the 41st percentile in 2023-2024 to the 28th percentile recently, though its science and math scores actually improved. For parents, Martin offers a brighter spot, especially in literacy, while Tipton Durant faces severe challenges that will require urgent intervention in math and attendance.