South Highlands Middle School

South Highlands Middle School in Union Springs, AL, serves 382 students in grades 5 through 8 within the Bullock County School District, and it faces significant challenges as a high-poverty school where nearly 9 out of 10 students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

The most striking finding is that this school is really a story of two very different experiences. On one hand, English Language Learner (ELL) students are performing remarkably well, ranking in the 79th percentile statewide — a clear sign that effective programs exist within the building. On the other hand, the overall school ranks in the bottom 4% of Alabama middle schools, and the gap between male and female students is severe and widening. Female students rank in the 8th percentile, while male students have dropped to the 1st percentile, meaning the school is dramatically under-serving its boys. Mathematics is a particular area of crisis: 7th-grade math proficiency has hovered around just 1% for three straight years, and 6th-grade math fell from about 8% to less than 1% in two years. Chronic absenteeism has also been extremely volatile, jumping from 5% to 37% in a single year before settling at 28% — more than double the state average.

Despite these struggles, there are reasons for cautious optimism. Eighth-grade science, while still below state averages, has shown some resilience and could be a foundation to build on. The school's success with ELL students proves that its educators know how to move the needle when the right strategies are in place. The key question for parents is whether the school can take what works for one group of students and apply it more broadly — especially for boys and in math instruction. With the district itself ranked near the bottom statewide, these are systemic challenges, but the pockets of excellence inside South Highlands suggest improvement is possible if leadership can scale those successes.