The top reported proficiency rate is 51% in English language arts. The lowest is 19% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on West Forest Intermediate School
West Forest Intermediate School sits in Opelika, the county seat of Lee County and a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika metropolitan area. Opelika’s economy is closely tied to nearby Auburn University, and its largest employer is East Alabama Health. The city has seen steady population growth and has attracted substantial industrial investment over the years, including new and expanded manufacturing. For families, the community offers a mix of residential neighborhoods, commercial districts, and industrial employment, with civic anchors such as a recently built public library, a sports complex, and parks. The school itself serves grades three through five as a regular public intermediate school within the Opelika City district.
The student body at West Forest is diverse. The largest racial or ethnic group is Black or African American, followed by Hispanic or Latino students, with a smaller share of white students and very small numbers of students identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or two or more races. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which places the school in a high-poverty context. Data on the share of students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the information provided.
On state assessments, performance shows a mixed picture. In English language arts, the school’s combined proficiency across third, fourth, and fifth grades was above the midpoint for the school. Among individual grades, third graders posted the strongest proficiency rate, while fourth graders had the weakest, and fifth graders were in between. In math, proficiency was lower overall, with the highest rate among fifth graders and the lowest among fourth graders. Science is tested only in fourth grade, and proficiency there was the lowest of any subject or grade reported. When compared with other schools in Lee County districts on an overall proficiency index, West Forest fell in the bottom quartile, meaning its combined test scores across subjects and grades were among the lower end relative to peer districts in the county. Because only one year of assessment data was available, there is no trend to examine whether performance is improving or declining.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report, which is expected for an intermediate school. Information on discipline, attendance, chronic absenteeism, course access, and staffing was not provided. Similarly, no data was available on whether the school receives Title I funding or operates as a magnet school. A parent wanting a fuller picture of the school environment may wish to ask the school or district directly about these areas.
For families considering West Forest, the school offers a regular public school experience in a growing city with a mixed economic base. The student population reflects the broader diversity of Opelika, and the school serves a community with a high concentration of low-income households. Academically, English language arts is a relative strength compared with math and science, but overall proficiency lags behind other districts in the county, and a parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what supports are in place. The district brief turned up little in the way of recent major changes or strategic priorities, so the parent would need to check with district leadership for any current initiatives. The housing market in the area has seen moderate appreciation, and rents have risen somewhat, consistent with a city experiencing growth. For a family anchored in Opelika or the Auburn area, West Forest is the neighborhood intermediate school option within the Opelika City system.
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