Summary:
Zip code 35579 in Oakman, Alabama, is served by a single middle school, Oakman Middle School, which enrolls 249 students in grades 5 through 8 and is part of the Walker County school district.
For parents, the most striking feature of Oakman Middle School is its exceptional 5th-grade math performance. In the 2025-2026 school year, 55.36% of 5th graders were proficient in math, far exceeding both the district (34.61%) and state (39.06%) averages. However, this strength does not carry into higher grades—math proficiency drops dramatically to just 15.25% for 6th grade, 18.18% for 7th grade, and 17.19% for 8th grade, all of which fall below state averages. This suggests a possible cohort effect or a strong 5th-grade teacher, but also points to a systemic challenge in upper-grade math instruction. English Language Arts is a more consistent strength, with proficiency rates hovering near or above state averages across all grades, including 7th grade (52.73% vs. 55.25% state).
The school also stands out for its remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of just 2.6%, compared to 11.0% for the district and 12.0% for the state, despite 45.38% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. This indicates strong student engagement and effective attendance strategies. Per-student spending is $8,963, and the student-teacher ratio is 19.1. The school's state ranking has been stable over three years, hovering around 250th out of roughly 440 schools (43rd-44th percentile), suggesting consistent but not improving performance. While the 5th-grade math anomaly is a bright spot, the overall picture is one of a stable school with pockets of excellence, particularly in early math and English, but with clear room for growth in upper-grade mathematics.
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