Summary:
Zip code 35244 in Hoover, AL is served by a single, exceptionally high-performing middle school, Robert F Bumpus Middle School, which enrolls 1,192 students in grades 6-8 and is part of the top-ranked Hoover City district (13th out of 139 districts in Alabama).
For parents, this school is a standout choice. Robert F Bumpus Middle School has ranked in the top 5% of Alabama middle schools for three consecutive years, including a 20th-place finish out of 443 schools in 2025-2026. Academically, the school excels in English/Language Arts, with proficiency rates between 81% and 86% across all grades—far exceeding state averages of roughly 55-58%. Science proficiency is also strong at 81.58% for 8th graders. However, math performance is notably weaker, ranging from 60% proficiency in 6th grade down to 47.85% in 8th grade, with the 8th-grade math score actually falling below the district average (52.79%). This creates a striking 30+ point gap between English and math achievement, and math proficiency declines by 12 points as students progress from 6th to 8th grade.
The school benefits from a favorable learning environment: only 22.57% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, chronic absenteeism is just 3.8% (compared to 12% statewide), and the student-teacher ratio is a healthy 15.3:1. Per-student spending is $11,153. Year-over-year, the school saw a strong +5.98 point improvement in 8th-grade science, while math dipped slightly in 6th and 8th grades. With only one middle school in the zip code, families have no public school choice, but given the school's elite performance—roughly double the state average in math and well above in English—this catchment area is highly desirable for families prioritizing a rigorous, well-supported education.
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