Collins Intermediate School

Collins Intermediate School in Scottsboro, AL, serves 538 students in grades 4-6 as part of the Scottsboro City district, and it stands out as a high-performing school that consistently exceeds state averages, particularly in mathematics.

Collins Intermediate is a clear academic standout, especially in math. In the most recent school year, proficiency rates reached 45.95% in 4th grade, 58.58% in 5th grade, and 56.82% in 6th grade—dramatically outpacing state averages by nearly 20 points in the upper grades. This isn't a one-year fluke; 5th grade math proficiency has climbed an impressive 20 points over three years. The school also shines in 4th grade science, with a 65.41% proficiency rate that beats the state by over 15 points. English scores are solid, ranging from 60-68% proficiency, though 5th grade dipped slightly below the state average this year. Compared to nearby Stevenson Middle School, Collins outperforms it in 6th grade math by over 25 percentage points, and it also beats Kate Duncan Smith DAR Middle in the same subject. The school serves a diverse economic population, with 53.9% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, yet still achieves results well above state norms.

However, there are two areas parents should watch. Chronic absenteeism has risen to 13.6%, slightly above the district and state averages, and notably higher than Kate Duncan Smith's remarkably low 1.9% rate. Additionally, the transition to Scottsboro Junior High School shows a dramatic drop-off in math proficiency—from roughly 45-58% at Collins down to just 18-21% at the junior high. This "pipeline" concern suggests that while Collins builds strong foundations, those gains may not be sustained in the next school. With a student-teacher ratio of 19.5 and per-student spending of $9,552, Collins remains a strong choice, but the district's ability to maintain momentum through junior high is worth investigating.