The top reported proficiency rate is 78% in English language arts. The lowest is 54% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Drake Middle School
Drake Middle School serves only sixth graders, a narrow grade band that makes it an unusual entry point for secondary school in Auburn. The school is a regular public school within the Auburn City district, and its single-year structure means students arrive for one year and then move on—likely to a junior high and then high school, though the district’s exact feeder pattern is not stated in the available data. For a parent, this means the transition to middle school is compressed into a single year, and the school’s identity is built around that specific age group.
Located on North Donahue Drive, Drake sits inside Auburn, a city whose character is thoroughly shaped by Auburn University. The university is the dominant employer, and the city’s downtown is integrated with campus, creating a walkable core amid a broader suburban expanse. Auburn is Alabama’s fastest-growing metro area, and that growth is visible in the district: enrollment has climbed steadily across Auburn City Schools, a second high school is planned to open in 2028, and infrastructure expansion is a central political issue. The housing market reflects this pressure—home values and rents in the area sit above state averages, and the combination of university employment and a strong manufacturing base has kept the local economy resilient.
Within this context, Drake’s academic profile is mixed. On the 2024-25 state assessments, sixth graders posted notably stronger results in English language arts, where a large majority of students met the proficiency standard, compared to math, where the share was lower. Across tested subjects, the school’s overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint among the three school districts in Lee County. That positions Drake favorably relative to its immediate neighbors, but the comparison set is small. There is no multi-year trend data because only one year of current testing is available; the school’s science results date back to 2016-17 and were for a seventh-grade test, so they do not reflect current instruction or grade level. A parent looking for longitudinal progress will want to ask what the school’s recent trend looks like and how math instruction is being addressed.
The student body of roughly seven hundred is all sixth graders. Demographically, about half of students are white, about one-fifth are Black, over one-tenth are Asian, and smaller shares identify as Hispanic or two or more races. Approximately one-third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with disabilities and English learners is missing from the available records, so a parent should expect to ask the school directly about special education and language support services. No information on discipline, staffing ratios, course access, or attendance was provided, which is a notable gap for a middle school where parents may care about class sizes and the range of electives.
The district context adds another layer. Auburn City Schools holds Cognia accreditation, and its rapid enrollment growth has driven grade-level reconfigurations and the upcoming second high school. Drake itself is a single-grade school, which may mean it offers a concentrated experience—one year to establish academic footing and social connections before students scatter to different junior high campuses. A parent weighing this school should consider whether a single sixth-grade year meets their child’s need for continuity, and whether the school’s strengths in ELA and its above-county-average proficiency are balanced by its weaker math results. The gaps in available data mean that a visit and a conversation with the school are essential.
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