Summary:
The middle schools in zip code 35045 (Clanton, AL) serve grades 4 through 8 across two public schools within the Chilton County district, which ranks in the 31st percentile statewide.
Clanton Intermediate School (grades 4-6) is the larger of the two, with 630 students, and stands out for its exceptionally low chronic absenteeism rate of 3.7%—less than a third of the state average. Its 4th graders are a clear bright spot, exceeding state averages in science (50.82% proficient) and matching them in math (39.89%). However, math proficiency drops sharply by 5th grade (22.64%) and remains low in 6th grade (21.67%). English performance is stronger, with 5th graders at 64.93% and 6th graders at 58.62%, the latter above the state average. The school serves a majority low-income population (60% free/reduced lunch) and has a higher student-teacher ratio of 20.3:1.
Clanton Middle School (grades 7-8) is smaller at 401 students but shows the most encouraging trend: its state percentile ranking has climbed from 41st to 57th over the past two years, earning a 3-star rating. While 7th and 8th grade math scores remain low (19.34% and 20.88%), the school excels in other areas. Its 8th graders exceed state averages in both English (64.29% vs. 58.53%) and science (61.54%), and its chronic absenteeism rate (6.2%) is well below the state's 12%. CMS benefits from a more favorable student-teacher ratio (16:1) and higher per-student spending ($8,429 vs. $7,731 at CIS). The most notable concern across both schools is the systemic math slump beginning in 5th grade, while science emerges as a consistent strength—suggesting that successful science teaching strategies could be applied to improve math outcomes.
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