Summary:
Zip code 35673 in Trinity, Alabama, is served by two middle schools—West Morgan Middle School and East Lawrence Middle School—which together educate roughly 970 students across grades 4 through 8, with both schools serving predominantly economically disadvantaged families.
For parents comparing the two, West Morgan Middle School is the stronger choice academically. It holds a 3-star rating and ranks in the 64th percentile of Alabama middle schools, while East Lawrence Middle School has a 1-star rating and sits in the 23rd percentile. West Morgan outperforms East Lawrence in nearly every subject and grade level—most dramatically in 8th-grade math, where only 5.5% of East Lawrence students are proficient versus 31.0% at West Morgan. West Morgan also exceeds state averages in 5th-grade math (48.7% vs. 39.1%) and 8th-grade science (56.6% vs. 54.1%). East Lawrence does have one notable advantage: it spends 21% more per student ($7,270 vs. $5,994), yet achieves worse results, suggesting that funding alone doesn't drive success. Both schools share a hidden strength in attendance, with chronic absenteeism rates of just 2.0-2.5% compared to the 12.0% state average, indicating strong family engagement despite academic struggles.
District context plays a clear role in these outcomes. Morgan County ranks in the 66th percentile of Alabama districts, while Lawrence County ranks in the 29th percentile. West Morgan is also on an upward trajectory, jumping from the 48th to 64th percentile in one year, while East Lawrence has remained stagnant. Parents should note that West Morgan's English scores are consistently stronger than its math scores, and both schools show a pattern of literacy outperforming mathematics. For families in this area, West Morgan offers clearly better academic outcomes, though East Lawrence's low absenteeism and higher per-student spending may appeal to those prioritizing school culture and resources.
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