Summary:
Zip code 35661 is home to just one middle school, Muscle Shoals Middle School, which serves grades 6 through 8 and enrolls 642 students within the Muscle Shoals City district.
For parents, this school is a clear standout. It has earned a 5-star rating and ranked in the top 10% of all Alabama middle schools for three consecutive years, placing between 30th and 40th out of roughly 440 schools. Academically, it far exceeds state averages across the board. In math, proficiency rates range from 52.76% in 7th grade to 60.75% in 6th grade—about double the state average. English is the school's strongest subject, with all grades scoring above 72% proficiency, led by 8th grade at 76.36% compared to the state's 58.53%. Science in 8th grade also shines at 68.04% versus the state's 54.12%. The school also boasts a very low chronic absenteeism rate of just 5.5%, less than half the district rate of 10.4% and the state rate of 12.0%, which strongly correlates with its high achievement. The student-teacher ratio is a reasonable 16.4, and per-student spending is $9,009.
One interesting finding is a notable dip in 7th-grade math proficiency during the 2024-2025 school year, when it fell to 38.03% while 6th and 8th grades were around 68%. However, the 2025-2026 data shows 7th-grade math rebounding to 52.76%, suggesting the issue was likely specific to that prior cohort rather than a systemic problem. Another takeaway is the school's efficiency: despite 33.18% of students being economically disadvantaged, it still achieves top-tier results, indicating strong resource allocation and support for all learners. Overall, Muscle Shoals Middle School offers a consistently excellent, well-rounded education with particular strength in literacy and a highly engaged student body.
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