Summary:
Zip code 35173, covering the Trussville and Clay area of Alabama, is home to 2 middle schools serving grades 6-8 with a combined enrollment of 2,115 students, yet these schools offer vastly different educational experiences. Hewitt-Trussville Middle School is a standout 5-star institution ranking in the 92nd percentile statewide, while Clay-Chalkville Middle School faces significant challenges with a 1-star rating in the 11th percentile.
For parents, the academic gap between these two schools is dramatic. In 6th-grade math, Hewitt-Trussville achieves 54.1% proficiency compared to just 8.9% at Clay-Chalkville, and the gap persists across all subjects—Hewitt-Trussville's 8th-grade science proficiency is 80% versus 23.4% at Clay-Chalkville. English proficiency at Hewitt-Trussville hovers around 77% across grades, while Clay-Chalkville ranges from 30-36%. The schools also differ significantly in student environment: Hewitt-Trussville has only 16.4% free/reduced lunch eligibility and a 3.7% chronic absenteeism rate, while Clay-Chalkville has 72.5% free/reduced lunch eligibility and 20.4% chronic absenteeism. Interestingly, despite serving a more disadvantaged population, Clay-Chalkville spends $614 less per student ($8,115 vs. $8,729).
The district context amplifies these differences. Trussville City ranks 5th out of 139 districts in Alabama (96th percentile), while Jefferson County ranks 101st (27th percentile). Hewitt-Trussville has maintained strong performance over three consecutive years, while Clay-Chalkville has remained consistently low. For parents choosing between these schools, the data clearly shows Hewitt-Trussville offers superior academic outcomes, lower absenteeism, and a more stable learning environment, though the socioeconomic disparities and funding differences suggest systemic factors at play that require attention at Clay-Chalkville.
Thank you for your feedback!