Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 36603

Zip code 36603 in Mobile, Alabama is served by two middle schools—Dunbar Creative Performing Arts and Calloway Smith Middle School—both part of the Mobile County district and covering grades 6-8.

For parents comparing the two, Dunbar Creative Performing Arts is the clear standout. It ranks in the 68th percentile statewide (3 stars) versus Calloway Smith’s 32nd percentile (2 stars). Dunbar excels in English, with proficiency rates 8-19 points above state averages across all grades—its 7th grade score of 74% is especially strong. It also beats Calloway Smith in 6th and 8th grade math and 8th grade science. Calloway Smith, meanwhile, shows promise in 7th grade math (19.78% vs. Dunbar’s 15.18%) and has made dramatic gains in 8th grade science, jumping from 23% to nearly 45% in one year. However, its overall academic performance remains below district and state averages, and its higher poverty rate (90% free/reduced lunch vs. 70% at Dunbar) correlates with lower outcomes.

Both schools share some positive traits: chronic absenteeism is remarkably low (5-6% vs. a 12% state average), and per-student spending is nearly identical at about $8,400-8,500. Yet Dunbar achieves far better results with the same resources, suggesting school culture or its creative arts focus may be driving success. The biggest challenge for both is mathematics—most scores trail state averages, though Dunbar’s 8th grade math jumped from 17% to 31% in a year, hinting that targeted interventions can work. For parents, Dunbar offers stronger academics, especially in English and science, while Calloway Smith is improving but still has ground to cover, particularly in math.