Summary:
Zip code 36804 is home to just one middle school, Sanford Middle School, a mid-sized school in Opelika serving grades 5 through 8 with 533 students in the Lee County district.
For parents considering this area, Sanford Middle School presents a mixed picture. The school has maintained a consistent but modest ranking over the past three years, sitting in the 38th to 41st percentile statewide with a 2-star rating. Academically, 6th graders perform well, with 44.8% proficient in math (beating both the district and state averages) and 58.73% proficient in English (also above state levels). However, there is a dramatic and concerning drop in 7th grade math proficiency to just 6.15%, far below the district's 15.32% and state's 24.46%. English scores also dip in 7th grade to 42.54%, and by 8th grade, English proficiency (52.76%) falls nearly six points below the state average. Science in 8th grade lags the state by over eight points at 45.67% proficiency.
On a positive note, chronic absenteeism is 12.3%, essentially matching the state average of 12.0%, which is notable given that 60.41% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The student-teacher ratio is a favorable 15.5:1, and per-student spending is $9,340. The most urgent area for improvement is clearly 7th grade mathematics, where proficiency is alarmingly low. The school's stable ranking suggests a consistent educational environment, but the significant academic decline in 7th grade—across both math and English—points to a potential "wall" that may require targeted intervention and support for students transitioning into that grade level.
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