Fairview Middle School, Cullman AL

Original Research by School Decision on Fairview Middle School

Fairview Middle School serves grades six through eight in the Cullman County school system. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and sits on the outskirts of Cullman, a city that blends residential, commercial, and industrial activity along the Interstate 65 corridor. The school’s enrollment is modest for a middle school, and its student body is predominantly white with a sizable Hispanic minority; no Black or Asian students are enrolled, and the remaining population is very small. A substantial share of students come from low-income households, as indicated by the free-or-reduced-price lunch rate.

On state assessments, the school shows a pronounced split between subjects. English language arts proficiency is relatively strong across all three grades, with the large majority of students meeting the bar. Science, tested only in eighth grade, also posts a solid proficiency rate. Mathematics, however, is a clear soft spot. Proficiency in math is markedly lower, especially in sixth grade where about one in five students are proficient. The rate improves by eighth grade to roughly two in five, but overall math performance remains well below the ELA and science results. Because this is the first year of available assessment data, there is no trend to compare against.

When placed against the other school district in Cullman County, Fairview Middle’s overall proficiency index lands in the bottom tier. A parent may want to ask the school about strategies for raising math performance, particularly in the earlier middle grades, and whether there are targeted interventions or support programs in place.

The economic context of the area is moderate. Housing values in the school’s zip code are above the Alabama average but below the national median, and monthly mortgage estimates are within reach for households with median incomes. The local economy is anchored by healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, and retail, and Cullman has been steadily growing, with ongoing downtown revitalization. That said, the school is part of the county system, not the city system, and its setting is more rural than the downtown core.

The school’s civil rights data, discipline rates, attendance figures, and staffing details were not reported in the available records. Without that information, it is harder to assess student support structures or climate. Similarly, no program offerings such as gifted, arts, or career pathways are documented here, so a parent would need to contact the school directly to learn about elective options and enrichment. The absence of a multi-year academic trend also means this snapshot is the only baseline.

Overall, Fairview Middle offers a middle school setting in a growing county, with ELA instruction that appears to serve most students well and math instruction that likely needs improvement. The economic need in the student population is high, which may affect readiness and resources. Families considering this school should explore how the school addresses math gaps and what supports are available for students who arrive below grade level.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 619%

School 19% · District 37% · ▼ 18 pts below district

▼ 9 pts below state median · ▼ 22 pts below county median

Grade 727%

School 27% · District 24% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▲ 10 pts above state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

Grade 843%

School 43% · District 30% · ▲ 13 pts above district

▲ 28 pts above state median · ▲ 15 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 669%

School 69% · District 62% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 771%

School 71% · District 58% · ▲ 13 pts above district

▲ 17 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Grade 863%

School 63% · District 64%

▲ 11 pts above state median · even with county median

Science

Grade 858%

School 58% · District 48% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▲ 23 pts above state median · ▲ 11 pts above county median

This schoolCullman County, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income65%Higher-income74%8 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income74%Higher-income66%8 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income59%Higher-income67%8 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income14%Higher-income25%10 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income24%Higher-income31%8 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income37%Higher-income49%12 pp gap