Summary:
Zip code 35004, serving the Moody, AL area, is home to two middle schools within the St Clair County district, together educating 946 students across grades 4 through 8.
For parents, the clearest takeaway is that Moody Middle School (grades 4-6) is the stronger academic performer in the area, particularly in English where it beats state averages in every grade, and in math where 5th and 6th graders show solid proficiency. In contrast, Moody Junior High School (grades 7-8) struggles significantly, especially in math, where only about 19-20% of students are proficient compared to the state's 24-26%. This creates a stark "math cliff" — 6th graders at Moody Middle hit 42.5% proficiency, but that number plummets by 23 points once they enter 7th grade at the junior high. Notably, this gap isn't explained by poverty, as both schools have nearly identical free/reduced lunch rates (around 45-47%), nor by class size, since the junior high actually has a better student-teacher ratio (20:1 vs. 23.8:1). The junior high also spends less per student ($7,058 vs. $7,756), which may be a factor.
On the positive side, both schools have healthy attendance, with chronic absenteeism well below state averages (7.7% and 9.5% vs. 12.0%). Science scores are a hidden strength at both campuses, with 8th graders at the junior high matching the state average. However, the junior high's overall ranking has slipped from the 56th to 48th percentile over the past two years, signaling a downward trend. For parents, this means Moody Middle provides a strong foundation, but the transition to junior high — especially in math — is a critical area to watch and likely warrants a conversation with the district about curriculum alignment and instructional support.
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