Summary:
Zip code 35401 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is served by a single middle school, Westlawn Middle School, which enrolls 568 students in grades 6-8 within the Tuscaloosa City school district.
For parents considering this area, Westlawn Middle School presents a challenging academic picture. The school has consistently ranked in the bottom 11-13% of Alabama middle schools over the past three years, earning a 1-star rating. Proficiency rates in mathematics are particularly concerning, with only 4.35% of 7th graders and 9.89% of 8th graders meeting state standards—roughly 20 percentage points below state averages. English performance is stronger, ranging from 25% to 35% proficiency across grades, though still well below district and state benchmarks. The school serves a predominantly economically disadvantaged population, with 87.85% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and per-student spending is relatively robust at $13,988. Despite these struggles, there are some positive signs: 6th and 8th grade math scores improved significantly year-over-year, and the school's chronic absenteeism rate of 7.4% is notably better than both the district (11.1%) and state (12.0%) averages, indicating strong attendance and family engagement.
The most urgent concern is the dramatic decline in 7th-grade math proficiency, which fell to just 4.35%—a "middle school math cliff" that suggests a targeted intervention is needed for this specific grade. Meanwhile, 8th-grade science shows relative strength at 28.57% proficiency, improving by over 8 points from the previous year. Overall, Westlawn Middle School faces systemic challenges tied to high poverty and persistent underperformance, but its strong attendance and pockets of improvement in certain subjects provide a foundation that could be leveraged for broader academic gains. Parents should be prepared for a school that requires significant support and advocacy to help students reach their potential.
Thank you for your feedback!