Summary:
Zip code 35761, encompassing New Market, Alabama, is home to a single middle school, Buckhorn Middle School, which serves grades 7 and 8 with an enrollment of 701 students within the Madison County school district.
As the only middle school in the area, Buckhorn Middle School stands out as a strong performer, ranking 91st out of 443 Alabama middle schools (79th percentile) and earning a 4-star rating. The school has shown consistent improvement, climbing from 106th to 91st in state rankings over the past three years. Academically, the school excels in English, with 7th and 8th grade proficiency rates of 66.3% and 66.7%, respectively—both well above state averages. Mathematics proficiency is also above state levels, with 7th grade at 35.1% and 8th grade at 30.8%. Science proficiency for 8th graders is notably strong at 60.4%, significantly outpacing the state average of 54.1%. The school serves a moderate poverty population, with 34.4% of students receiving free or reduced lunch, and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 20.5:1 with per-student spending of $8,221.
Several key takeaways emerge for parents. First, math scores improved dramatically year-over-year, with 7th grade jumping 4.2 points and 8th grade rising 4.7 points, suggesting effective interventions. Second, 8th grade science proficiency soared by 14.8 percentage points in a single year—the most significant gain across all subjects. However, English growth has been minimal, and chronic absenteeism at 17.8% is notably higher than the state average of 12.0%, which could be an area of concern despite strong academics. The school achieves above-average results with modest spending, indicating efficient instructional practices. Given its upward trajectory, Buckhorn Middle School appears poised to break into the top 20% of Alabama middle schools within the next few years, making it a solid choice for families in the New Market area.
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