Rutledge School

Rutledge School in Midfield, AL, serves 288 students in grades 5-8 within the Midfield City district, a high-poverty area where roughly 90% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

The most striking thing about Rutledge is its exceptional attendance: only 2.7% of students were chronically absent in 2024-2025, compared to 12% statewide. This is a remarkable achievement, especially when nearby schools like Bessemer City Middle School (29.5%) and Hueytown Middle School (18.3%) struggle with much higher rates. However, strong attendance hasn't translated into strong academics. Math proficiency is critically low, with just 2.99% of 8th graders proficient in 2025-2026 (state: 26.36%), and the previous year saw 0% proficiency. English Language Arts is relatively stronger, with 5th graders achieving 43.4% proficiency, though still below the state average of 69.53%. The school has been stuck in the bottom 10% of Alabama middle schools for five years, showing no clear upward or downward trend.

Compared to similar schools, Rutledge actually outperforms Empower Community School Upper Campus in nearly every subject—for example, 16.98% vs. 0% in 5th grade math. Yet the contrast with Ira F Simmons Middle School in Hoover City, just 7.5 miles away, is stark: Simmons achieves 57.19% proficiency in 6th grade math versus Rutledge's 15.63%. Notably, Rutledge spends $13,639 per student—more than several nearby schools—and has a student-teacher ratio of 19.8. This suggests the challenges are less about resources and more about the deep, systemic effects of concentrated poverty. The school's improving outcomes for African American students (climbing from the 12th to 23rd percentile) and its strong support for homeless students are positive signs, but the persistent math deficits and volatile special education results (swinging from the 67th to 6th percentile) indicate that meaningful academic turnaround remains elusive.