Summary:
Zip code 36420 in Andalusia, Alabama, is served by a single middle school, Andalusia Junior High, which enrolls 270 students in grades 7-8 and operates within the highly regarded Andalusia City district, ranked in the top 20% of all Alabama districts.
For parents, the standout feature of Andalusia Junior High is its exceptional 7th-grade mathematics performance, with 53.72% of students proficient compared to just 24.46% statewide—a remarkable 29-point advantage. The school also excels in 7th-grade English (68.03% vs. 55.25% state average) and maintains a low chronic absenteeism rate of 9.0%, better than the state's 12.0%. However, there is a dramatic grade-level gap: 8th-grade math proficiency drops to just 30.51%, and 8th-grade English (54.24%) falls below the state average (58.53%). Year-over-year data shows significant declines in all 8th-grade subjects (math -11.6 points, science -13.67 points, English -8.17 points), while 7th-grade subjects improved, contributing to the school's state ranking dropping from 53rd to 106th. This pattern suggests the current 8th-grade cohort may be struggling with more advanced concepts or facing a challenging transition.
Despite serving a majority economically disadvantaged population (56.3% free/reduced lunch), the school outperforms state averages in most subjects, indicating effective instructional practices. The school's test scores exactly match district averages, confirming it is the sole middle school in the Andalusia City district. With a 15:1 student-teacher ratio and per-student spending of $8,120, the school operates efficiently. The science performance, while declining sharply from 67.91% to 54.24%, still matches the state average exactly, suggesting last year's results were exceptional rather than this year's being poor. Parents should note the strong 7th-grade program but investigate the 8th-grade decline, which may warrant additional support or targeted interventions for that grade level.
Thank you for your feedback!