Middle Schools in Hartselle City

The two middle schools in the Hartselle City district—Hartselle Junior High School (grades 7-8) and Hartselle Intermediate School (grades 5-6)—serve roughly 1,075 students in a highly ranked Alabama district (#9 out of 139, 5-star rating). Both schools share similar demographics, with about 35% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch and nearly identical student-teacher ratios (15.0 and 15.2).

Hartselle Junior High School is the standout, ranked #19 out of 443 Alabama middle schools (96th percentile) with a 5-star rating for three consecutive years. Its 8th-grade science proficiency is exceptional at 82.95%—nearly 29 points above the state average—and it posted dramatic year-over-year math gains (7th grade: +11.14 points; 8th grade: +7.49 points). The school also has the district's lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 8.0%. Hartselle Intermediate School, while not state-ranked, excels in 5th-grade English with 89.96% proficiency (20.43 points above the state average) and shows remarkable stability in math scores year-over-year. However, its chronic absenteeism rate (9.3%) is notably higher than the Junior High's, suggesting a potential area for intervention with younger students.

Both schools dramatically outperform state averages in every subject, with math proficiency gaps ranging from +25 to +34 points and English gaps from +17 to +27 points. The "middle school dip" is muted here: English proficiency declines from 89.96% in 5th grade to 75.58% in 8th grade, but this is far less severe than statewide trends. Mathematics remains the relative weakness (54.62-65.13% proficiency) compared to English and science, representing the district's biggest opportunity. The Junior High spends $1,422 more per student ($9,433 vs. $8,011) than the Intermediate School, which may reflect specialized programs. With chronic absenteeism well below the state average (12.0%) and consistent performance despite moderate poverty levels, these schools demonstrate effective, uniformly applied instructional practices across all grade levels.