Summary:
Middle Schools in zip code 35127 (Pleasant Grove, Alabama) consist of a single school, Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School, which serves grades 6-8 and is part of the Jefferson County district.
This school is a remarkable standout, ranking #1 in Alabama for the 2025-2026 and 2024-2025 school years and #2 in 2023-2024, all while earning a 5-star rating each year. Its academic performance is exceptional across the board. In 2025-2026, proficiency rates in English range from 95.7% to 98.0% across grades 6-8, while math proficiency sits at 69.6% for 6th grade, 78.5% for 7th grade, and 66.7% for 8th grade. Science proficiency for 8th graders is an impressive 98.0%. These numbers dwarf both the district and state averages—for example, 7th grade math proficiency is 78.5% compared to just 13.7% for the district and 24.5% for the state. The school also boasts a low chronic absenteeism rate of 6.5%, less than half the state average of 12.0%, and serves a moderate-poverty population with 38.3% of students receiving free or reduced lunch.
For parents, this school offers an elite academic environment despite being in a district that ranks in the bottom 27% statewide. The International Baccalaureate curriculum appears to drive strong literacy and science outcomes, with near-universal proficiency in English and science. While 8th grade math shows a slight dip compared to 7th grade, overall performance remains far above typical benchmarks. The student-teacher ratio is 17.6:1, and per-student spending was $13,217 in 2018-2019. If you are seeking a middle school with rigorous academics and consistent top-tier results, this is the clear choice in the 35127 area—its success demonstrates that school-level factors can overcome district-wide challenges.
Thank you for your feedback!