Middle Schools in Pelham City

Pelham City Middle School is the sole middle school in the Pelham City district, serving grades 6-8 with 287 students in a high-poverty area where 100% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch.

This school stands out for its strong attendance and improving academic trajectory. Chronic absenteeism sits at just 9.3%, roughly half the state average of 17.7%, which is remarkable given the high-needs population. The school has also climbed significantly in state rankings, moving from the 26th percentile (438th out of 588 schools) in 2023-2024 to the 35th percentile (373rd out of 578 schools) in 2025-2026 — a jump of 61 positions in one year. The student-teacher ratio of 13:1 and per-student spending of $13,776 indicate solid resource investment. In the most recent test data, 8th-grade science proficiency (27.3%) nearly matches the state average (29.7%), representing the school's smallest gap in any subject. Social Studies showed dramatic improvement, jumping from 19.0% to 33.8% proficiency year-over-year, narrowing the state gap from nearly 20 points to just 6.4 points.

Mathematics proficiency improves steadily by grade level — from 13.9% in 6th grade to 35.1% in 8th grade — though all grades still trail state averages by 11 to 27 points. The most recent ELA data (2024-2025) shows proficiency around 18-21% across grades, with a consistent 20-22 point gap below state averages; updated ELA results are expected in December. While the school's overall upward momentum is encouraging, particularly in Science and Social Studies, math and literacy remain areas needing continued focus. Since this is the district's only middle school, its performance directly defines the district's middle school profile, making its recent improvements especially meaningful for the entire community.