Lanett Junior High School

Lanett Junior High School in Lanett, AL, is a small school serving 147 students in grades 7 and 8, and it is part of the Lanett City district, which ranks near the bottom of all districts in the state.

Academically, this school faces significant challenges. Proficiency rates are well below state averages in every subject. For example, in the most recent school year, only about 1% of 7th graders and 6% of 8th graders were proficient in math, compared to roughly 25% statewide. English scores are stronger but still lag, with about 20% of 8th graders proficient versus 55% across Alabama. The school has consistently ranked in the bottom 5-13% of middle schools over the past five years. Chronic absenteeism has improved dramatically, dropping from 25% to about 16%, though it remains above the state average. On a positive note, 8th-grade science scores nearly doubled recently, jumping from 10.6% to 20.6% proficiency, suggesting a possible area of successful intervention.

Compared to nearby schools, Lanett is the lowest-performing in its immediate area. W F Burns Middle School, just 3.5 miles away, has similar demographics but significantly better outcomes—for instance, 40.6% of its 8th graders are proficient in English versus 20.6% at Lanett, and its chronic absenteeism rate is half. Opelika Middle School, about 17 miles away, is a top-tier school with math proficiency rates nearly five times higher. Interestingly, Lanett spends more per student ($10,778) than either of these higher-performing schools, suggesting the issue is not a lack of funding but how resources are used. The school also shows a clear pattern of stronger English performance than math, pointing to a potential focus area for improvement.