Summary:
Zip code 35901 in Gadsden, AL, is served by a single middle school, Gadsden Middle School, which enrolls 438 students in grades 6 through 8 and is part of the Gadsden City school district.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that Gadsden Middle School shows both notable strengths and areas of concern. The school’s chronic absenteeism rate is just 7.6%, far better than the district’s 13.9% and the state’s 12.0%, which points to a positive and engaging school culture. Academically, the 7th grade is a clear standout: in the 2025-2026 school year, 7th graders posted 40.43% proficiency in Math and 64.79% in English, both well above district and state averages. The school also led its district in Math across all three grade levels in the prior year. However, performance is uneven by grade. While 7th grade excels, 8th grade Math proficiency is a concern at just 21.64%, and 8th grade Science lags significantly behind the state average (40.46% vs. 54.12%). There is also considerable year-over-year volatility, such as 6th grade Math dropping from 41.18% to 24.31% between school years, suggesting that outcomes can vary strongly with each cohort.
Despite a high rate of economic disadvantage (63.93% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch) and a district ranked in the bottom half of Alabama, Gadsden Middle School frequently meets or exceeds state averages in English and Math, particularly in 7th grade. The school’s state ranking has fluctuated between the 49th and 59th percentile in recent years, currently sitting at the 53rd percentile. With a student-teacher ratio of 18.5 and per-student spending of $7,496, the school is making efficient use of resources. Parents should view this school as one with strong attendance and pockets of academic excellence, but should also be aware that 8th grade Science and Math, along with grade-to-grade consistency, are areas that may need extra attention.
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