Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

New rankings! SchoolDigger recently updated its Alabama rankings with newly released test scores for the 2025-26 school year.

Be the first to know when we post new rankings!

Challenger Middle School

Q: Is Challenger Middle School a good school?

Challenger Middle School ranks 53 rd of 443 Alabama middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-9

53^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 443 Alabama Middle Schools

Better than 88% of Alabama middle schools

Summary

Challenger Middle School in Huntsville, AL, serves 425 students in grades 6 through 9 and is part of the Huntsville City district, consistently earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 88th percentile statewide.

Challenger stands out for its exceptional academic performance, particularly in science and English Language Arts. In 8th grade science, 85% of students scored proficient—a remarkable 31 percentage points above the state average and a 20-point jump from the prior year. ELA scores are strong across all grades, with 7th and 8th graders exceeding state averages by over 25 points. The school also excels at supporting students with special needs, ranking in the 94th percentile statewide for this subgroup—a rare achievement. Perhaps most impressive is the school's incredibly low chronic absenteeism rate of just 3.3%, compared to 8.2% for the district and 12% statewide, suggesting students are engaged and families are highly involved.

When compared to nearby schools, Challenger's performance is particularly noteworthy given its student demographics. While Hampton Cove Middle School ranks higher overall (7th vs. 53rd), it serves a much more affluent population with only 11% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch compared to Challenger's 35%. Mountain Gap Middle School, just a mile away, slightly outperforms Challenger overall, but Challenger has a significantly lower chronic absenteeism rate (3.3% vs. 7.7%). Meanwhile, Whitesburg Middle School and Chapman Middle School, both within 10 miles, rank in the bottom 20% of the state. Math scores show some variability—6th grade dips below state averages, but 7th and 8th graders significantly outperform—suggesting students catch up as they progress. For families in South Huntsville, Challenger offers a strong, inclusive educational environment that delivers impressive results across diverse student populations.

425

Students ?

18.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,912

Per pupil spending ?

35.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

13555 Chaney Thompson Rd
Huntsville, AL 35803

(256) 428-7620

District: Huntsville City

Students who attend Challenger Middle School usually attend:

High:

Virgil Grissom High School

Feeder schools for Challenger Middle School:

Elementary:	Challenger Elementary School
	Farley Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

51.5%

African American:

22.8%

Hispanic:

15.5%

See top rated Alabama middle schools

Compare Challenger Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 91st percentile in 2016 → 88th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Alabama average (61% vs 44% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 12% of Alabama middle schools

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school61%

District avg44%

Alabama avg44%

53^rd of 443

Alabama public middle schools ?

Top 12%▼ down 3 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Alabama Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 7Middle Schools in the Huntsville City

77^th of 139Huntsville City among Alabama districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	82.8	53 of 443	88.0%	★★★★☆
2025	82.0	54 of 439	87.7%	★★★★☆
2024	81.4	61 of 442	86.2%	★★★★☆
2023	73.6	85 of 437	80.5%	★★★★☆
2022	75.5	70 of 432	83.8%	★★★★☆
2021	69.5	91 of 440	79.3%	★★★★☆
2019	84.2	49 of 437	88.8%	★★★★☆
2018	82.7	54 of 423	87.2%	★★★★☆
2017	79.3	67 of 432	84.5%	★★★★☆
2016	87.4	40 of 432	90.7%	★★★★★
2015	88.4	40 of 430	90.7%	★★★★★
2014	84.6	42 of 438	90.4%	★★★★★
2013	78.6	49 of 436	88.8%	★★★★☆
2012	83.9	36 of 436	91.7%	★★★★★
2011	83.8	34 of 435	92.2%	★★★★★
2010	86.0	29 of 435	93.3%	★★★★★
2009	92.3	10 of 425	97.6%	★★★★★
2008	86.8	25 of 417	94.0%	★★★★★
2007	88.9	20 of 412	95.1%	★★★★★
2006	93.2	15 of 409	96.3%	★★★★★
2005	93.0	14 of 415	96.6%	★★★★★
2004	94.3	12 of 407	97.1%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	79.1	33 of 266	87.6%	★★★★☆
2025	72.8	41 of 259	84.2%	★★★★☆
2024	54.3	91 of 269	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.6	73 of 263	72.2%	★★★★☆
2022	54.4	87 of 271	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	45.6	110 of 266	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	61.2	65 of 252	74.2%	★★★★☆
2018	52.9	92 of 247	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	35.7	135 of 205	34.1%	★★☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2021	62.6	8 of 22	63.6%	★★★★☆
2017	45.5	8 of 14	42.9%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	79.7	63 of 422	85.1%	★★★★☆
2025	77.3	68 of 415	83.6%	★★★★☆
2024	79.3	60 of 426	85.9%	★★★★☆
2023	69.6	96 of 417	77.0%	★★★★☆
2022	69.8	92 of 423	78.3%	★★★★☆
2021	64.0	116 of 415	72.0%	★★★★☆
2019	79.2	58 of 399	85.5%	★★★★☆
2018	82.9	48 of 392	87.8%	★★★★☆
2017	76.9	60 of 380	84.2%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	81.8	18 of 173	89.6%	★★★★★
2024	85.5	11 of 164	93.3%	★★★★★
2023	60.4	53 of 166	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	67.5	37 of 157	76.4%	★★★★☆
2021	55.7	58 of 154	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	73.6	21 of 124	83.1%	★★★★☆
2018	83.4	14 of 113	87.6%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	71.6	89 of 432	79.4%	★★★★☆
2025	74.1	76 of 428	82.2%	★★★★☆
2024	65.1	112 of 437	74.4%	★★★★☆
2023	44.8	223 of 410	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.1	265 of 421	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.0	209 of 415	49.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	82.4	33 of 396	91.7%	★★★★★
2018	72.7	79 of 396	80.1%	★★★★☆
2017	59.5	107 of 349	69.3%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	83.0	53 of 421	87.4%	★★★★☆
2025	83.1	52 of 422	87.7%	★★★★☆
2024	80.1	61 of 428	85.7%	★★★★☆
2023	74.7	75 of 419	82.1%	★★★★☆
2022	76.7	61 of 427	85.7%	★★★★☆
2021	70.2	85 of 418	79.7%	★★★★☆
2019	82.8	43 of 399	89.2%	★★★★☆
2018	80.9	52 of 397	86.9%	★★★★☆
2017	78.0	56 of 380	85.3%	★★★★☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	59.9	18 of 43	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	49.1	14 of 26	46.2%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	76.2	32 of 145	77.9%	★★★★☆
2025	80.3	16 of 92	82.6%	★★★★☆
2023	57.4	27 of 72	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	75.8	10 of 60	83.3%	★★★★☆
2021	49.4	31 of 61	49.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.4	19 of 46	58.7%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	83.0	15 of 266	94.4%	★★★★★
2025	86.8	18 of 271	93.4%	★★★★★
2024	91.1	9 of 281	96.8%	★★★★★
2023	68.4	48 of 281	82.9%	★★★★☆
2022	76.0	25 of 256	90.2%	★★★★★
2021	75.1	25 of 274	90.9%	★★★★★
2019	75.4	24 of 254	90.6%	★★★★★
2018	67.4	42 of 223	81.2%	★★★★☆
2017	62.1	37 of 195	81.0%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	79.9	51 of 355	85.6%	★★★★☆
2025	81.0	55 of 377	85.4%	★★★★☆
2024	82.9	46 of 373	87.7%	★★★★☆
2023	71.5	78 of 370	78.9%	★★★★☆
2022	71.3	75 of 376	80.1%	★★★★☆
2021	65.6	92 of 369	75.1%	★★★★☆
2019	81.7	44 of 343	87.2%	★★★★☆
2018	77.8	54 of 331	83.7%	★★★★☆
2017	68.8	52 of 247	78.9%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Special Education (2026)94th percentile+6 vs school

Hispanic (2025)90th percentile~ school

African American (2026)88th percentile~ school

Male (2026)87th percentile~ school

White (2026)86th percentile~ school

Female (2026)85th percentile-3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)79th percentile-9 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)78th percentile-10 vs school

Asian (2021)64th percentile-16 vs school

Military Connected (2025)58th percentile-30 vs school

By subject vs Alabama (2025-2026) ?

Science85%+31 vs state

English76%+19 vs state

Mathematics38%+9 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

Rate Challenger Middle School

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

What people are saying

by a student
Thursday, February 4, 2010

This school deserves to be in the top ten! The teachers are amazing and the students are exceptional! You should check your facts on this school! Close Quote

Schools Near Challenger Middle School

Load more schools when map is moved

Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				Summative Assessment Mathematics (2026)			Summative Assessment Science (2026)	Summative Assessment English (2026)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Summative Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 8th Grade	Summative Assessment English 6th Grade	Summative Assessment English 7th Grade	Summative Assessment English 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Challenger Middle School	Public	6-9	13555 Chaney Thompson Rd	Huntsville	35803	Madison County	Huntsville City	No	No	No	No	(256) 428-7620	425	23	18.4	35.3%	219 (51.5%)	97 (22.8%)	66 (15.5%)	14 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (6.8%)	82.8	53^rd of 443 public middle schools	88.0%		82	54^th of 439 public middle schools	87.7%	1	31.7	40.6	40.8	85.4	67.2	80.4	80.8	$8,912	$1,270	$7,641
Mountain Gap Middle School	Public	6-8	821 Mountain Gap Road SE	Huntsville	35803	Madison County	Huntsville City	No	No	No	No	(256) 428-7720	366	23	15.9	33.6%	234 (63.9%)	63 (17.2%)	36 (9.8%)	6 (1.6%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (6.8%)	91.1	33^rd of 443 public middle schools	92.6%		88	44^th of 439 public middle schools	90.0%	11	51.6	61.3	48.3	81.7	78.0	74.8	78.3	$7,782	$767	$7,014
Whitesburg Middle School	Public	6-8	107 Sanders Rd	Huntsville	35802	Madison County	Huntsville City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 428-7780	535	29	18.4	57.9%	133 (24.9%)	170 (31.8%)	192 (35.9%)	5 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	32 (6.0%)	18.7	367^th of 443 public middle schools	17.2%		22.7	341^st of 439 public middle schools	22.3%	26	10.9	9.3	11.2	33.9	34.1	32.0	40.2	$8,356	$1,156	$7,199
Hampton Cove Middle School	Public	6-8	261 Old 431 Highway	Hampton Cove	35763	Madison County	Huntsville City	No	No	No	No	(256) 428-8380	785	35	22.4	10.8%	611 (77.8%)	36 (4.6%)	46 (5.9%)	31 (3.9%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	59 (7.5%)	97.6	7^th of 443 public middle schools	98.4%		97.4	6^th of 439 public middle schools	98.6%	1	70.2	63.5	67.3	86.4	85.7	88.3	93.8	$6,081	$152	$5,927
Huntsville Junior High School	Public	7-8	817 Adams St SE	Huntsville	35801	Madison County	Huntsville City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 428-7700	530	26	20.7	50.0%	224 (42.3%)	207 (39.1%)	60 (11.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	36 (6.8%)	49.6	222^nd of 443 public middle schools	49.9%		45.7	238^th of 439 public middle schools	45.8%	16		21.5	31.8	43.5		49.7	53.9	$8,048	$1,306	$6,741
Morris Middle School	Public	6-8	4801 Bob Wallace Avenue	Huntsville	35805	Madison County	Huntsville City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 428-7340	397	25	15.8	74.1%	40 (10.1%)	134 (33.8%)	202 (50.9%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	15 (3.8%)	21.6	351^st of 443 public middle schools	20.8%		20.9	351^st of 439 public middle schools	20.0%		12.2	10.8	5.6	38.7	28.7	42.4	44.3
Chapman Middle School	Public	6-8	2006 Reuben Dr NE	Huntsville	35811	Madison County	Huntsville City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 428-7640	315	21	15.0	77.5%	33 (10.5%)	207 (65.7%)	56 (17.8%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	16 (5.1%)	14.5	388^th of 443 public middle schools	12.4%		11.8	404^th of 439 public middle schools	8.0%	16	5.4	8.9	4.2	33.3	25.8	31.3	38.5
Williams Middle School	Public	6-8	155 Barren Fork Blvd SW	Huntsville	35824	Madison County	Huntsville City	No	No	No	No	(256) 428-7330	659	30	21.9	49.9%	106 (16.1%)	397 (60.2%)	84 (12.7%)	4 (0.6%)	2 (0.3%)	9 (1.4%)	57 (8.6%)	35.6	288^th of 443 public middle schools	35.0%		36.9	289^th of 439 public middle schools	34.2%	1	21.7	9.1	14.4	43.6	54.7	45.2	52.3	$7,969	$169	$7,799
Academy for Academics and Arts Middle School	Public	6-8	4800 Sparkman Drive NE	Huntsville	35810	Madison County	Huntsville City	No	No	No	No	(256) 428-7600	270	20	13.8	43.7%	69 (25.6%)	145 (53.7%)	21 (7.8%)	5 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	29 (10.7%)	56.9	173^rd of 443 public middle schools	60.9%		63.5	131^st of 439 public middle schools	70.2%	42	26.9	16.5	22.2	44.9	64.8	71.1	67.7
Academy For Science Foreign Language Middle School	Public	6-8	3221 Mastin Lake Road	Huntsville	35810	Madison County	Huntsville City	No	No	No	No	(256) 428-7000	194	13	14.9	47.9%	36 (18.6%)	109 (56.2%)	19 (9.8%)	4 (2.1%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (12.9%)	81.4	58^th of 443 public middle schools	86.9%		79.9	65^th of 439 public middle schools	85.2%	7	26.6	37.5	37.7	85.3	70.9	76.6	92.1

Frequently Asked Questions about Challenger Middle School

What high school do graduates of Challenger Middle School attend?

Students who attend Challenger Middle School usually go on to attend Virgil Grissom High School

What is the racial makeup of Challenger Middle School?

Students at Challenger Middle School are 52% White, 23% African American, 16% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

How many students attend Challenger Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 425 students attended Challenger Middle School.

What district is Challenger Middle School in?

Huntsville City

Is Challenger Middle School a good school?

Challenger Middle School ranks 53^rd of 443 Alabama middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Challenger Middle School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

ALAlabama Middle School Rankings

ALAlabama District Rankings

Schools in Huntsville, AL

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Challenger Middle School!

Latest Alabama data All new data »

2025–26 Summative Assessment scoresNewAug 14, 2026

2024–25 attendance data & graduation ratesDec 27, 2025

2024–25 Summative Assessment scoresAug 14, 2025

2021–22 through 2023–24 attendance data & graduation ratesDec 2, 2024

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Alabama State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.