Summary:
Zip code 36089 is home to just one middle school, South Highlands Middle School, which serves grades 5 through 8 in Union Springs, Alabama, within the Bullock County school district.
For parents considering this area, the most important takeaway is that South Highlands Middle School is facing significant academic challenges. The school consistently ranks in the bottom 10% of Alabama middle schools, and its state ranking has slipped from 403rd to 424th out of roughly 440 schools. Proficiency rates are dramatically below state averages in every subject. For example, only 1.1% of 7th graders are proficient in math, compared to 24.46% statewide, and just 9.8% of 8th graders are proficient in science versus 54.12% statewide. English scores are also very low, with 8th-grade proficiency at 15.69% compared to the state's 58.53%. The school serves a high-poverty population, with 87.43% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and chronic absenteeism sits at 28%, more than double the state rate of 12%. While the school's absenteeism is better than the district average of 35.6%, it still points to a systemic issue across Bullock County.
There are a few mixed signs. Between the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years, 6th-grade math improved by 4.58 points and 8th-grade science improved by 5.63 points. However, 8th-grade English dropped sharply by 16.94 points, and 7th-grade math fell to just 1.1% proficiency. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.3, and per-student spending is $7,701. The data suggests that academic deficits may compound as students get older, with 5th graders historically performing better than their older peers. Overall, this is a school that would benefit from substantial intervention, particularly in math and science, along with wraparound support to address the high levels of poverty and absenteeism.
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