The top reported proficiency rate is 67% in English language arts. The lowest is 27% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Bridgeport Middle School
Bridgeport Middle School sits in a small, predominantly residential community in northeast Alabama along the Tennessee River. The town of Bridgeport has a sparse suburban-rural feel, with limited commercial development concentrated along US Route 72, and it has experienced a population decline over the past decade. The closure of the TVA Widows Creek coal-fired power plant removed a major local employer, and no large replacement has emerged. The housing stock is largely older mid-century homes, and the area offers a low cost of living. The school serves grades five through eight, drawing students from the town and surrounding parts of Jackson County; for high school, those same students will commute to North Jackson High School in Stevenson.
The student body is small and predominantly white, with a notable share of American Indian or Alaska Native students as well as Black and Hispanic students. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a sign that the school serves a community with limited household incomes.
Academically, the picture is mixed and worth a close look. On the state ACAP assessments, English language arts proficiency is a relative strength. Across the four grade levels tested, the share of students meeting the proficiency bar is solid, with the highest performance in fifth grade and generally strong showings in seventh and eighth grades as well. Science results for eighth graders land near the midpoint. The data that will give a parent the most pause is in mathematics. Proficiency rates in math are low across every grade, with only a modest share of students reaching the state standard in fifth grade, sixth grade, seventh grade, and even eighth grade, where the rate is higher but still well below a majority. When the school is compared against other districts in Jackson County, its overall proficiency index sits in the bottom quartile, meaning it trails the other district in the county in combined test performance. This is the central academic concern at Bridgeport Middle School, and a parent should ask the school directly about what math interventions and supports are in place.
There is no graduation rate to report, since this is a middle school. The data on special education and English learner populations was not available, so a parent may want to confirm the school's capacity and staffing to serve students with individualized education programs or those learning English as a new language. Discipline data and chronic absenteeism rates were also missing from the available information.
The school is a regular public school within the Jackson County district. The district has undertaken a multi-year consolidation effort, including closing some small community schools and redrawing attendance zones. That structural change permanently alters which schools students attend and how far they travel, and it is likely that the attendance boundaries for Bridgeport Middle School have been affected or could shift in the future. A parent moving to the area should check current attendance zones directly with the district office.
For families who prioritize reading and writing achievement, the middle school delivers a reliable baseline. For a family whose child needs strong math instruction or is already behind in numeracy, the low proficiency rates across all grades are a red flag to investigate. The very small enrollment means each grade has a cohort of roughly two dozen to three dozen students, which can allow for close relationships between teachers and students but also means limited course variety. No information was available on elective offerings, arts, athletics, or any special programs like band, career-technical pathways, or advanced coursework at this level. A family interested in those opportunities should ask the school directly what is available and whether any programs are shared with the high school in Stevenson.
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