Summary:
Zip code 32615 in Alachua, Florida, is home to two middle schools—A. L. Mebane Middle School and Alachua Learning Academy Middle—serving grades 6-8 within the Alachua school district, which ranks in the 29th percentile statewide.
Alachua Learning Academy Middle is the standout school in this area, consistently ranking in the top 5% of all Florida middle schools with a 5-star rating for three consecutive years. It achieves near-perfect proficiency rates in several subjects, including 95% in 6th grade math and 80% in 8th grade science, far exceeding state averages. This small school of 63 students operates with a lower student-teacher ratio (15.7:1) and spends significantly less per student ($6,391) than its larger counterpart. In contrast, A. L. Mebane Middle School enrolls 385 students and spends $10,358 per student, yet its academic results are consistently below state averages, ranking in the 32nd to 39th percentile. A critical weakness for A. L. Mebane is its declining math performance, with 8th grade math proficiency dropping to just 32%—29 points below the state average—while its 6th grade math proficiency is strong at 72%.
Both schools face challenges with chronic absenteeism, with rates near or above the state average of 31.4%. Alachua Learning Academy Middle also serves as a feeder school powerhouse, offering advanced coursework like Algebra 1 and Biology 1 with 100% proficiency in 10th grade ELA, accelerating students into high school-level material. For parents, the choice is clear: Alachua Learning Academy Middle delivers exceptional academic outcomes with efficient resource use, while A. L. Mebane Middle School struggles with larger class sizes, higher economic disadvantage, and systemic math challenges in upper grades.
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