Irondale Middle School, Irondale AL

Original Research by School Decision on Irondale Middle School

Irondale Middle School is a regular public school serving grades six through eight in Irondale, a suburb northeast of Birmingham. The school enrolls a mid-sized student body for a middle school in the area. The student population is diverse, with a substantial share of students identifying as Black and a large Hispanic representation, alongside smaller groups of White students and those reporting two or more races. A significant proportion of students come from lower-income households, as indicated by eligibility for free or reduced-price meals.

Academic performance on the state's ACAP assessments presents a clear challenge. Proficiency in mathematics is very low across all three grade levels. In English language arts, roughly two out of every five students meet proficiency standards, a modest figure. Science proficiency, measured only in eighth grade, is also low. The school's overall proficiency index, which averages performance across tested subjects and grades, places it below the midpoint when compared with other districts in Jefferson County.

Because this is a middle school, there is no graduation rate to report, and there are no college readiness metrics. Information on chronic absenteeism, discipline, course access, and staffing was not available in the data provided. A parent may want to inquire directly with the school about those areas, as well as about any specific programs or support services, since the data did not include program details. The district brief for Jefferson County indicated no recent changes of lasting impact.

Irondale itself is a growing city at the foothills of Ruffner Mountain along the Cahaba River. It has a mix of residential neighborhoods and commercial corridors, with notable employers including the Eternal Word Television Network. The historic downtown and sites such as the Irondale Cafe and Golden Rule Bar-B-Q give the city a distinct character. Home values in the area are moderate, and the rental market is active, typical of a Birmingham suburb served by Interstate 20.

The school is part of the Jefferson County school district, a large and varied system that includes many other schools across the county. The comparison among Jefferson County districts shows Irondale Middle School's overall proficiency index below the midpoint, indicating that its academic results are among the lower range within that countywide group.

In summary, Irondale Middle School serves a diverse, majority low-income student body in a growing suburban community. Its academic results on state assessments are notably low, especially in mathematics, and it sits below the average for other districts in the county. Families weighing this school will want to explore what academic supports and enrichment opportunities are in place, as the data leaves those questions unanswered.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 67%

School 7% · District 18% · ▼ 11 pts below district

▼ 22 pts below state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

Grade 73%

School 3% · District 14% · ▼ 11 pts below district

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

Grade 81%

School 1% · District 11% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 642%

School 42% · District 47% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

Grade 739%

School 39% · District 47% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 14 pts below state median · even with county median

Grade 838%

School 38% · District 44% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 14 pts below state median · even with county median

Science

Grade 820%

School 20% · District 29% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▼ 15 pts below state median · even with county median

This schoolJefferson 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-income39%Higher-income55%15 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income37%Higher-income50%13 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income35%Higher-income50%15 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 7Lower-income3%Higher-income3%1 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income1%Higher-income3%2 pp gap