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Sipsey Valley Middle School

Q: Is Sipsey Valley Middle School a good school?

Sipsey Valley Middle School ranks 150 th of 449 Alabama middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 5-8

150^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 449 Alabama Middle Schools

Better than 67% of Alabama middle schools

Summary

Sipsey Valley Middle School in Buhl, AL, serves 575 students in grades 5 through 8 as part of the Tuscaloosa County school district. The school has earned a solid 3-star rating in recent years and currently ranks in the 67th percentile statewide, a notable jump from the 58th percentile the previous year.

One of the most encouraging trends at Sipsey Valley is its consistent academic edge over the district average. In 8th-grade math, for example, the school posts a 26.72% proficiency rate compared to the district's 17.55%, and in 8th-grade science, the gap is even wider—63.57% versus 43.3%. Science is a clear strength, with scores that also beat the state average. The school has also made impressive strides in reducing chronic absenteeism, dropping from 21.1% to 14.7% in just one year, a sign of improved student engagement. While there is a noticeable dip in 7th-grade English and math scores—below both district and state averages—the overall trajectory is positive, with broad-based gains across multiple student groups, including significant improvements for students in special education and those from low-income households.

Compared to nearby schools, Sipsey Valley stands out as a strong performer within its district. It significantly outperforms Davis-Emerson Middle School and Hillcrest Middle School in both math and English, and holds a slight edge over Duncanville Middle School and Echols Middle School. While it doesn't reach the elite levels of Tuscaloosa Magnet School Middle or Northridge Middle School in the Tuscaloosa City district, Sipsey Valley offers a well-rounded, improving education that makes it a top choice for families in the Buhl area.

575

Students ?

20.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,427

Per pupil spending ?

46.4%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

15817 Romulus Rd
Buhl, AL 35446-9315

(205) 342-2870

District: Tuscaloosa County

Students who attend Sipsey Valley Middle School usually attend:

High:

Sipsey Valley High School

Feeder schools for Sipsey Valley Middle School:

Elementary:	Buhl Elementary School
	Myrtlewood Elementary School
	Westwood Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

68.3%

African American:

17.6%

Hispanic:

12.2%

See top rated Alabama middle schools

Compare Sipsey Valley Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 62nd percentile in 2016 → 67th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 5 percentile points since 2016

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Tuscaloosa County

✓Above the Alabama median (67th percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school49%

District avg39%

Alabama avg47%

150^th of 449

Alabama public middle schools ?

Top 33%▲ up 5 pts since 2016

From top 38% (2016) to top 33% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Alabama Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 7Middle Schools in the Tuscaloosa County

90^th of 140Tuscaloosa County 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	60.5	150 of 449	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	53.3	183 of 439	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	44.6	236 of 442	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	51.6	197 of 437	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	47.7	213 of 432	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	58.5	152 of 440	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	62.0	144 of 437	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.1	145 of 423	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2017	61.5	142 of 432	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2016	57.5	166 of 432	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2015	45.3	225 of 430	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2014	45.1	250 of 438	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	52.4	251 of 436	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2012	51.7	240 of 436	45.0%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	74.4	39 of 269	85.5%	★★★★☆
2025	42.5	130 of 259	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	37.4	151 of 269	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	41.1	132 of 263	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	40.1	139 of 271	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	55.3	85 of 266	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	61.5	63 of 252	75.0%	★★★★☆
2018	63.9	61 of 247	75.3%	★★★★☆
2017	49.5	77 of 205	62.4%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	57.1	164 of 427	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	51.5	188 of 415	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	49.6	199 of 426	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.2	188 of 417	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.2	212 of 423	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.8	164 of 415	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	58.2	153 of 399	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.4	144 of 392	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	57.6	145 of 380	61.8%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	56.7	29 of 82	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	51.1	69 of 173	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	43.2	79 of 164	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.7	70 of 166	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	39.8	88 of 154	42.9%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	54.9	172 of 438	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	40.6	252 of 428	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.0	291 of 437	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	65.0	106 of 410	74.1%	★★★★☆
2022	43.6	231 of 421	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	44.8	218 of 415	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	53.4	175 of 396	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	55.2	174 of 396	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	47.3	179 of 349	48.7%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	59.8	146 of 426	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	52.1	183 of 422	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	37.5	266 of 428	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.7	206 of 419	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	44.6	222 of 427	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	58.4	143 of 418	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	62.8	126 of 399	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.7	130 of 397	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	62.7	117 of 380	69.2%	★★★☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2021	43.9	29 of 56	48.2%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	52.0	96 of 269	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	60.5	66 of 271	75.6%	★★★★☆
2024	38.5	158 of 281	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.8	106 of 281	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.8	53 of 256	79.3%	★★★★☆
2021	65.5	44 of 274	83.9%	★★★★☆
2019	51.3	101 of 254	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.2	39 of 223	82.5%	★★★★☆
2017	48.5	79 of 195	59.5%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	48.9	162 of 359	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	50.0	164 of 377	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	37.2	236 of 373	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.2	187 of 370	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.7	196 of 376	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	52.7	139 of 369	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.6	131 of 343	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	50.6	151 of 331	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2017	48.5	97 of 247	60.7%	★★★☆☆

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)

African American (2026)86th percentile+19 vs school

Male (2026)66th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)65th percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)64th percentile~ school

Female (2026)62nd percentile-5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)61st percentile-6 vs school

White (2026)55th percentile-12 vs school

Native American (2021)48th percentile-17 vs school

By subject vs Alabama (2025-2026) ?

English64%+4 vs state

Science64%+9 vs state

Mathematics30%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Sipsey Valley Middle School

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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 (2023)
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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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 5th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 8th Grade	Summative Assessment English 5th 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
Sipsey Valley Middle School	Public	5-8	15817 Romulus Rd	Buhl	35446	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa County	No	No	No	No	(205) 342-2870	575	28	20.3	46.4%	393 (68.3%)	101 (17.6%)	70 (12.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	8 (1.4%)	60.5	150^th of 449 public middle schools	66.6%		53.3	183^rd of 439 public middle schools	58.3%	33	38.0	34.7	21.8	26.7	63.6	76.6	62.1	46.8	70.5	$8,427	$911	$7,483
Westlawn Middle School	Public	6-8	1715 Martin L King Jr Blvd	Tuscaloosa	35401	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 759-3673	568	38	14.9	87.9%	7 (1.2%)	488 (85.9%)	61 (10.7%)	4 (0.7%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.9%)	14.1	399^th of 449 public middle schools	11.1%		14.7	382^nd of 439 public middle schools	13.0%	17		16.0	4.4	9.9	28.6		25.0	25.7	35.2	$16,045	$3,919	$12,079
Echols Middle School	Public	7-8	2701 Echols Ave	Northport	35476	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa County	No	No	No	No	(205) 342-2884	738	42	17.5	55.1%	350 (47.4%)	212 (28.7%)	151 (20.5%)	9 (1.2%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (1.8%)	59	161^st of 449 public middle schools	64.1%		51.5	199^th of 439 public middle schools	54.7%	38			24.2	23.1	54.4			60.3	60.4	$8,564	$982	$7,548
CollinsRiverside Middle School	Public	5-6	1400 3rd St	Northport	35476	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa County	No	No	No	No	(205) 342-2680	318	18	17.4	74.5%	75 (23.6%)	156 (49.1%)	80 (25.2%)	4 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.9%)								(n/a)	21.3	23.8				67.7	47.6			$14,044	$2,882	$11,128
Northport Intermediate School	Public	5-6	13688 Frankie Thomas Trace	Northport	35475	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa County	No	No	No	No	(205) 342-2690	500	25	19.6	44.0%	302 (60.4%)	101 (20.2%)	87 (17.4%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.2%)								(n/a)	45.9	31.3				74.7	65.2			$9,471	$1,234	$8,203
Hillcrest Middle School	Public	6-8	401 Hillcrest School Rd	Tuscaloosa	35405	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa County	No	No	No	No	(205) 342-2820	542	28	19.3	58.7%	80 (14.8%)	424 (78.2%)	24 (4.4%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (1.8%)	23	346^th of 449 public middle schools	22.9%		22.6	342^nd of 439 public middle schools	22.1%	4		5.4	14.3	11.4	27.9		34.3	44.8	46.6	$9,776	$1,078	$8,665
Tuscaloosa Magnet School Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	315 Mcfarland Blvd E	Tuscaloosa	35404	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa City	No	Yes	No	No	(205) 759-3653	173	11	16.4	30.1%	66 (38.2%)	89 (51.4%)	4 (2.3%)	12 (6.9%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	98	5^th of 449 public middle schools	98.9%		96.6	9^th of 439 public middle schools	97.9%	4		80.0	50.0	66.1	89.8		90.0	89.7	94.9	$18,111	$801	$17,263
Northridge Middle School	Public	6-8	3811 Northridge Road	Tuscaloosa	35406	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa City	No	No	No	No	(205) 759-3578	775	49	15.8	39.1%	381 (49.2%)	281 (36.3%)	67 (8.6%)	28 (3.6%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (1.9%)	77.5	73^rd of 449 public middle schools	83.7%		72.1	95^th of 439 public middle schools	78.4%	22		50.2	40.1	36.5	62.2		66.1	62.0	70.0	$11,664	$1,439	$10,177
Hale County Middle School	Public	6-8	120 Wildcat Way	Moundville	35474	Hale County	Hale County	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 371-7000	243	13	18.6	53.5%	96 (39.5%)	134 (55.1%)	10 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	56.3	185^th of 449 public middle schools	58.8%		48.5	221^st of 439 public middle schools	49.7%	36		55.1	18.1	24.1	50.0		61.5	48.6	58.0	$10,588	$1,268	$9,303
DavisEmerson Middle School	Public	6-8	1500 Bulldog Blvd	Cottondale	35453	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa County	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 342-2750	397	21	18.9	79.3%	87 (21.9%)	165 (41.6%)	137 (34.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.8%)	14.2	397^th of 449 public middle schools	11.6%		19.2	361^st of 439 public middle schools	17.8%	36		14.9	6.0	5.7	25.4		33.0	23.3	38.5	$12,190	$3,053	$9,103

Frequently Asked Questions about Sipsey Valley Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Sipsey Valley Middle School?

Students at Sipsey Valley Middle School are 68% White, 18% African American, 12% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

What district is Sipsey Valley Middle School in?

Tuscaloosa County

How many students attend Sipsey Valley Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 575 students attended Sipsey Valley Middle School.

Is Sipsey Valley Middle School a good school?

Sipsey Valley Middle School ranks 150^th of 449 Alabama middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What high school do graduates of Sipsey Valley Middle School attend?

Students who attend Sipsey Valley Middle School usually go on to attend Sipsey Valley High School

Rate Sipsey Valley Middle School!

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Schools in Buhl, AL

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Latest Alabama data All new data »

2019–20 through 2022–23 school spending dataNewOct 6, 2026

2025–26 Summative Assessment scoresAug 14, 2026

2024–25 attendance data & graduation ratesDec 27, 2025

2024–25 Summative Assessment scoresAug 14, 2025

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.