Elberta Middle School

Elberta Middle School in Elberta, AL, is a small but mighty school serving 276 students in grades 7 and 8 as part of the Baldwin County district. Despite its modest size, this school consistently ranks in the top 10% of all Alabama middle schools, earning a 5-star rating in five of the last six years and currently sitting at 30th out of 443 schools statewide.

What truly sets Elberta Middle apart is its remarkable ability to achieve top-tier results while serving a higher percentage of students from low socio-economic backgrounds (42.75% free/reduced lunch) than its more affluent neighbors like Fairhope Middle School (27.23%) and Gulf Shores Middle School (34.01%). The school ranks in the 96th percentile for academic performance among low-income students, and in the 92nd percentile for military-connected students—a testament to its effectiveness with every child. Its 8th-grade Science proficiency rate of 87.32% is a standout, outpacing the district by 16 points and the state by 33 points, while also beating both Fairhope (79.74%) and Gulf Shores (77.23%). English scores are equally impressive, with 7th graders hitting 84.56% proficiency—the highest among all comparable schools in the area.

Elberta also excels in areas beyond test scores. Its chronic absenteeism rate of 11.8% is lower than the state average and well below Foley Middle School (14.5%) and Central Baldwin Middle School (16.0%), suggesting strong student engagement. The school has also shown impressive resilience, bouncing back from a math dip in 2023-2024 to post solid gains the following year. While math scores (around 42% proficiency) aren't as high as English and Science, they still far exceed state averages. For parents seeking a school that delivers excellent academics while genuinely supporting students from all backgrounds, Elberta Middle School is a standout choice in Baldwin County.