Summary:
Zip code 35964 is home to a single middle school, Douglas Middle School, which serves grades 6 through 8 within the Marshall County district, enrolling 512 students in a predominantly rural area.
As the only middle school in this zip code, Douglas Middle School presents a mixed picture for parents. The school’s biggest strength is its science program: 8th-grade science proficiency reached 56.98% in 2025-2026, exceeding both the district (45.68%) and state (54.12%) averages. Attendance is also exceptional, with a chronic absenteeism rate of just 2.9% compared to the state average of 12.0%, indicating students are consistently showing up to class. However, mathematics is a major concern, with proficiency rates in the mid-teens (14-17%) across all grades—roughly half the state average. English scores are uneven: 8th graders perform near the state average (54.65% vs. 58.53%), but 6th and 7th graders lag by 10-18 percentage points. The school holds a 2-star rating and ranks in the 35th percentile statewide (289 out of 443), a decline from the 45th percentile two years ago.
Notably, about 67% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating a high-poverty population, yet attendance remains strong—suggesting engagement isn’t the issue. The student-teacher ratio of 18.8:1 is relatively high, which may limit individualized attention in math. Interestingly, while the school trails the state in most subjects, it often outperforms its own district (e.g., 8th-grade math at 14.53% vs. district 13.64%). The stark contrast between strong science and weak math in the same cohort suggests that successful teaching strategies in science could be replicated in math. For parents, this school offers a supportive, well-attended environment with a standout science program, but math intervention is clearly needed to reverse the declining state ranking.
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