The top reported proficiency rate is 31% in English language arts. The lowest is 13% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Midfield Elementary School
Midfield Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade in the small Jefferson County suburb of Midfield, a community that sits between Birmingham and Bessemer along the Bessemer Super Highway corridor. The school is one of the regular public elementary schools within the Midfield City school system, a district that operates independently within the city’s compact footprint.
State testing results from the Alabama ACAP assessment, covering the most recent school year, show proficiency rates that are substantially below the midpoint among districts in Jefferson County when averaged across tested subjects and grades. In math, the share of third and fourth graders meeting proficiency was low, and science results for fourth graders were similarly low. English language arts proficiency was somewhat higher than math or science, but still at a level that a parent would want to explore further with the school to understand the instructional picture. These results represent a single year of data, so there is no multi-year trend to compare against. Because the school serves only early elementary grades, no graduation rate applies. A parent considering Midfield Elementary should look into how the school supports students who are not yet meeting benchmarks and what interventions or enrichment are in place.
The student body is small for a public elementary school in this grade band. A very substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating that the school serves a community with high economic need. Racially and ethnically, the enrollment is predominantly Black or African American, with a notable Hispanic minority and a very small number of students who identify as two or more races or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. No data was reported on the number of students with individualized education programs or English learner status, so those dimensions of support are not available from the data provided. A parent with a child who has special education needs or is learning English may want to ask the school directly about services.
The housing market in the local area, measured at the ZIP code level, features home values and rents that are well below state and national benchmarks. The typical home value is a fraction of the state average, and rents are similarly modest relative to incomes. This makes the area financially accessible for many families, though the community’s economic context includes a median household income below the national figure. Midfield itself has been losing population steadily since the 1970s; its population peaked decades ago and has declined in each subsequent census. The city is small and compact, with civic life centered along the main highway corridor, and the built environment is primarily suburban in character. No major new housing developments or growth initiatives were identified in available public records, so the context is one of stability or contraction rather than expansion.
The district-level data showed no recent changes that would meet the bar of lasting, parent-relevant impact, so there is no recent administrative or programmatic shift to note here.
Midfield Elementary is a neighborhood school for a small, economically stressed suburb. The low proficiency results across tested subjects are a significant consideration for any family choosing this school, and a parent would be wise to discuss how the school identifies and closes learning gaps. The student body is racially homogeneous in a way that reflects the surrounding city’s demographics. For a family already living in Midfield or looking for an affordable entry point into Jefferson County, this is the local elementary option. For families weighing school performance heavily, the academic picture here is a clear soft spot, and further inquiry with the school and district about instructional strategies, intervention programs, and any recent academic initiatives is warranted. The school’s small size and early grade span mean that it focuses on foundational years; the next step after fourth grade would be Midfield Middle School, which is part of the same district.
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