Summary:
The 35148 zip code is home to a single middle school, Sumiton Middle School, which serves grades 5-8 and is part of the Walker County school district. While the school's enrollment of 494 students suggests it is meeting the needs of the local community, its academic performance has been declining in recent years, with a statewide ranking that has dropped from 276th out of 437 Alabama middle schools in 2022-2023 to 339th out of 439 in 2024-2025, earning it a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.
Sumiton Middle School faces several challenges that may be contributing to its low academic performance. The school has a high chronic absenteeism rate of 14.8%, and student performance on standardized tests is significantly below state and county averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 8th grade math, only 3.28% of Sumiton Middle School students scored proficient or better, compared to 17.61% in the Walker County district and 24.53% statewide. Additionally, the school serves a high-need student population, with 75.51% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in the 2023-2024 school year.
Despite these challenges, the data suggests that Sumiton Middle School is the only option for families in the 35148 zip code, which could indicate a lack of educational choices in the area. The school's relatively high student-teacher ratio of 18.2 may also be a contributing factor to its low performance, as larger class sizes can make it more difficult for teachers to provide individualized attention and support to students. Overall, the data highlights the need for additional resources and support to help Sumiton Middle School improve academic outcomes and provide a quality education to all students in the 35148 zip code.
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