Summary:
Zip code 36426, serving the Brewton, Alabama area, is home to two middle schools—W S Neal Middle School and Brewton Middle School—both covering grades 5 through 8 but operating under different district authorities: Escambia County and Brewton City, respectively.
Brewton Middle School is the clear standout in this area. It ranks 90th out of 443 Alabama middle schools (80th percentile) with a 4-star rating, and its district ranks in the top 20% statewide. Brewton exceeds state averages in nearly every subject and grade level, with particularly strong 8th-grade English (74% proficient vs. 58.5% state) and science (68.5% vs. 54.1% state). It also boasts a lower chronic absenteeism rate (10% vs. 23.9% at W S Neal) and a better student-teacher ratio (15:1 vs. 19.7:1). In contrast, W S Neal Middle School ranks 279th (37th percentile) with a 2-star rating, and its district ranks in the bottom half. W S Neal trails Brewton by 17-26 percentage points in several subjects, with 7th-grade math proficiency dropping to just 14%. However, W S Neal shows a bright spot in 5th-grade English (68.3% proficient, close to the state average) and made a dramatic 17.8-point improvement in 8th-grade science from the prior year.
Both schools spend nearly identical amounts per student (around $9,700-$9,800), yet outcomes differ sharply, suggesting that how money is spent—not how much—matters most. W S Neal serves a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students (67.4% vs. 54.6% free/reduced lunch), which adds context to its challenges. The most actionable difference is chronic absenteeism: W S Neal's rate is nearly double the state average, while Brewton's is below it. Addressing attendance and class sizes at W S Neal could yield significant gains. For parents, Brewton Middle School offers consistently stronger academics and a healthier learning environment, while W S Neal shows signs of improvement in specific areas but faces steeper hurdles.
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