Summary:
Zip code 36509 is home to just one middle school, Peter F Alba Middle School, which serves grades 6-8 in the Bayou La Batre area of Alabama, operating within the Mobile County school district.
For parents considering this school, the most important takeaway is that Peter F Alba Middle School shows a striking contrast between subjects. English language arts is a clear strength, with proficiency rates ranging from about 50% to 57% across grades 6-8, and 7th and 8th grade English scores actually exceed the district average. However, mathematics is a significant challenge—proficiency drops dramatically from 28% in 6th grade to just under 13% in both 7th and 8th grades, a much steeper decline than seen at the district or state level. Science proficiency improved substantially to nearly 47%, though it still trails district and state averages. The school currently holds a 2-star rating, ranking in the 40th percentile of Alabama middle schools, a decline from a 3-star rating a few years ago.
Beyond academics, the school serves a predominantly low-income population, with nearly 70% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Chronic absenteeism is a concern at 16.7%, notably higher than the district (12.8%) and state (12.0%) averages. With a student-teacher ratio of 18.4:1 and per-student spending around $8,700, the school faces resource challenges common to high-poverty areas. For families, this means the school offers solid literacy instruction and recent gains in science, but math proficiency and attendance are areas that likely need focused attention and support at home to help students succeed.
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