Summary:
Middle Schools in zip code 36701 (Selma, AL) serve approximately 455 students in grades 6-8 across two schools, both operating in a high-poverty area where over 92% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Parents comparing The RBHudson STEAM Academy (grades 7-8, 279 students) and Tipton Durant Middle School (grades 6-8, 176 students) will find significant differences despite their proximity. RBHudson, part of the Selma City district, outperforms Tipton Durant in nearly every academic category. For example, 8th grade English proficiency at RBHudson is 40.8% compared to 21.82% at Tipton Durant, and 8th grade science proficiency is 29.03% versus 12.73%. RBHudson also has a much healthier learning environment with a 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio and a 12.6% chronic absenteeism rate, versus Tipton Durant's 24:1 ratio and 28.8% absenteeism rate. Notably, Tipton Durant, part of the Dallas County district, spends $2,813 more per student ($13,056 vs. $10,243) yet achieves worse outcomes, suggesting resource allocation matters more than total spending.
Mathematics is a critical weakness at both schools. Tipton Durant had zero students proficient in math across all grades in 2024-2025, and only 8.89% of 6th graders reached proficiency in 2025-2026. RBHudson's 8th grade math proficiency is just 0.8%. However, there are encouraging signs. RBHudson showed remarkable year-over-year improvement in 8th grade English (19.72% to 40.8%) and 8th grade science (15.49% to 29.03%), suggesting recent interventions are working. Tipton Durant also showed modest gains in 6th grade math and 7th grade English. While both schools rank in the bottom 12% of Alabama middle schools, RBHudson demonstrates more positive momentum and a better overall learning environment, making it the stronger choice for parents in this area.
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