George P Austin Junior High School

George P Austin Junior High School is a small middle school in Linden, AL, serving 77 students in grades 6 through 8 within the Linden City district. Over 90% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the school spends about $11,010 per student—more than $2,300 above nearby Demopolis Middle School—allowing for a low student-teacher ratio of 15.4 and a highly personalized learning environment.

The most exciting news is that this school is on the rise. After years of ranking in the bottom 16th percentile statewide, George P Austin jumped to the 28th percentile in 2025-2026—its highest mark in a decade. That 12-point leap in a single year signals real momentum. The school is especially strong for its African American students, who now rank in the 58th percentile statewide (a 3-star rating), up from just the 24th percentile two years ago. Science is another standout: 8th graders hit 61% proficiency, beating the state average and nearly matching Demopolis Middle School, which serves a more affluent community. Chronic absenteeism also plummeted from 30.7% to 13.4% in one year, now nearly matching the state average and signaling a big shift in school culture and engagement.

The biggest challenge is math. Proficiency rates are critically low—just 3.7% in 7th grade and 5.6% in 8th grade—compared to Demopolis Middle School, where 6th-grade math proficiency tops 58%. While scores have improved slightly from last year (when some grades were at 0%), the gap remains enormous. Still, the combination of rising overall rankings, strong science results, improved attendance, and targeted per-student investment suggests a school that is finding what works. If it can apply that same focus to math, George P Austin could continue its remarkable turnaround.