Summary:
Zip code 36522 (Citronelle, Alabama) is home to just one middle school, Lott Middle School, which serves grades 6-8 with 427 students in the Mobile County district.
For parents considering this area, Lott Middle School is the only option, and it faces significant challenges. The school has a high poverty rate, with nearly 69% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, and a student-teacher ratio of 23.7:1, which is on the higher side. Academically, the school trails state averages across most subjects. The most concerning area is 7th grade math, where only 7.69% of students are proficient—a dramatic drop from the 24.17% proficiency seen in 6th grade the previous year. This suggests a possible issue with curriculum transition or instruction at that grade level. English is a relative bright spot, with 6th and 7th grade proficiency rates (50.83% and 53.21%) actually matching or exceeding the district average, though 8th grade English falls to 43.54%, well below the district's 55.45%. Science proficiency in 8th grade is also weak at 39.46% versus the state's 54.12%.
The school's state ranking has been steadily declining, from the 41st percentile in 2023-2024 to the 34th percentile in 2025-2026, even though its star rating has remained at 2 stars. Chronic absenteeism is a major concern, with 16.8% of students missing significant school time—40% higher than the state average of 12.0%. This likely compounds academic struggles, especially in sequential subjects like math. While per-student spending is $9,173, the combination of high absenteeism, large class sizes, and declining performance suggests that resources alone aren't solving the underlying issues. Parents should be aware that while the school shows some strength in early-grade English, the overall trajectory is concerning, particularly in math and upper-grade literacy, and may warrant close monitoring or supplemental support at home.
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