The top reported proficiency rate is 45% in English language arts. The lowest is 21% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Alexander City Middle School
Alexander City Middle School serves seventh and eighth graders in a regular public school setting within the Alexander City district, which sits in the largest municipality of Tallapoosa County. For a family considering this school, the first thing to understand is that it offers a focused two-year bridge between elementary and high school, with a student body that is diverse in racial and economic terms. The school is located on State Street in Alexander City, a place that has undergone a significant economic transition over the past two decades.
Alexander City, known locally as Alex City, was for much of the twentieth century a company town anchored by the Russell Corporation, a major textile manufacturer that was once the area’s dominant employer. That industry largely left, and the city has been working to diversify its economy ever since. Lake Martin, a large recreational reservoir with wooded shoreline, is the region’s most prominent natural asset and draws both residents and visitors. The city itself is car-oriented, covering a broad area, with a traditional downtown square at Court Square where city hall is located. Housing in the area is priced below both the state and national averages. Home values have seen a slight decline over the past year, and the area remains relatively affordable by national standards, though local wage data is not available at the school level to fully contextualize that affordability.
The school enrolls students in a roughly even split between seventh and eighth grades. The student population reflects the broader community: Black students constitute just under half of enrollment, White students make up roughly two-fifths, and Hispanic students account for about one-tenth. A substantial share of students come from households with economic need, as indicated by the share qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported, so families with children who have an Individualized Education Plan or who are learning English would want to contact the school directly about available support services.
On state assessments, the patterns are similar across math, English language arts, and science, though with notable variation by subject. Proficiency rates in math are low for both grade levels, with a smaller share of students meeting the state benchmark in eighth grade than in seventh. In English language arts, the school records a larger share of students at proficiency, with seventh graders performing somewhat stronger than eighth graders. The eighth grade science assessment shows proficiency for about a third of students. When compared to other school districts within Tallapoosa County, this school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits in the bottom quartile. That comparison set is small, with only two districts in the county, so the range is narrow, but the school’s index falls below the local midpoint by a clear margin. A parent may want to inquire with the school about what academic supports and interventions are in place, particularly in mathematics.
There is no multi-year assessment trend available, as only the most recent year’s data was reported. That means there is no way to tell from this data alone whether the school is improving, holding steady, or declining over time. The school does not serve high school grades, so no graduation rate is reported, and no chronic absenteeism data was available in these records.
For a family looking at Alexander City Middle School, the picture is a mixed one. The school sits in a community that is still finding its footing after the loss of its historic industrial base. The student body reflects that community’s demographic makeup, and the school itself is a traditional middle school serving the two years before high school. Academically, the state test results suggest that many students are below grade-level expectations, especially in math, and that the school is not performing as strongly as the one other district in the county for which comparison data exists. Families interested in this school will want to learn more about classroom instruction, academic intervention programs, and how the school prepares students for the transition to Benjamin Russell High School, which serves the same district.
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