Summary:
In zip code 36040, there is just one middle school option for families: Hayneville Middle School, which serves grades 6 through 8 in the Lowndes County district with a total enrollment of 144 students.
Hayneville Middle School faces significant academic challenges, ranking in the bottom 12-17% of Alabama middle schools over the past three years. The most concerning area is mathematics, where 0% of 7th graders were proficient in the most recent school year, and 8th-grade math proficiency was just 11.9%. English scores are relatively stronger, with 6th graders achieving 38.1% proficiency, but this still falls nearly 19 points below the state average. The school serves a student body with substantial economic need, as 88.19% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, and chronic absenteeism stands at 23.5%—nearly double the state average of 12.0%. This combination of high poverty and frequent absences creates a challenging learning environment that likely contributes to the low test scores.
Despite these difficulties, there are a few positive signs. The school's state ranking has improved slightly over the past three years, moving from 369th to 389th out of roughly 440 schools, and 8th-grade science proficiency increased from 10.64% to 16.67%. The school also spends a substantial $13,455 per student, which is above average, though this funding has not yet translated into strong academic outcomes. With a student-teacher ratio of 16.9:1, class sizes are manageable, but the school clearly needs targeted interventions—particularly in mathematics and attendance—to help its students succeed. Parents considering this school should be aware that while the staff and resources are in place, the school is working against significant socioeconomic barriers that require community-wide support to overcome.
Thank you for your feedback!