Summary:
Zip code 35125 is home to just one middle school, Duran Junior High School, which serves grades 7 and 8 in the Pell City area of Alabama, with a total enrollment of 601 students.
Duran Junior High School currently holds a 2-star rating and ranks 244th out of 443 middle schools statewide, placing it in the lower half of Alabama schools. This ranking has been steadily declining over the past three years, dropping from the 51st percentile in 2023-2024 to the 45th percentile today. The school's performance is nearly identical to the Pell City district average, yet the district itself ranks in the top 27% statewide, suggesting other schools in the district are performing significantly better. Academically, English is the strongest subject, with proficiency rates close to the state average (52-56% versus 55-58% statewide). However, math is a major concern, with only 19.5% of 7th graders and 16.3% of 8th graders proficient, compared to state averages of 24.5% and 26.4% respectively. Science proficiency for 8th graders is also below average at 45% versus 54% statewide.
Nearly 59% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating a high level of economic need, and the chronic absenteeism rate of 12.9% exceeds both the state average (12.0%) and the district average (9.5%). The student-teacher ratio is 18.7 to 1, which is relatively high and may limit individualized attention. Per-student spending is $9,403. While 7th-grade math showed slight improvement and science saw a notable jump from 36.5% to 45% proficiency, 8th-grade math declined and English remained flat. The combination of a declining ranking, significant math and science gaps, high absenteeism, and economic challenges suggests that Duran Junior High School is struggling to keep pace with the rest of the state and may benefit from targeted interventions in STEM subjects and student support services.
Thank you for your feedback!