The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in English language arts. The lowest is 9% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Davisemerson Middle School
Davis-Emerson Middle School serves grades six through eight in the community of Cottondale, a residential suburb on the eastern edge of Tuscaloosa. It is a regular public school within the Tuscaloosa County School System and the middle step in a feeder pattern that begins at Cottondale Elementary and leads to Holt High School.
The student body is diverse. A little under half of the students are Black, and a substantial share are Hispanic; White students and a small number of students of other races make up the remainder. The school serves a high-poverty population, with a very large majority of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Information on the share of students with disabilities or English learners was not included in the available data, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
On state assessments administered in the most recent school year, the school’s overall proficiency across subjects fell well below the midpoint among the districts in Tuscaloosa County. In reading and English language arts, roughly a third of students met the proficiency bar across grades six through eight, with slightly higher performance in the upper grades. In science, about one in five eighth graders scored proficient. Math results were notably low, with only a small fraction of students at each grade level reaching proficiency. Because only one year of assessment data was provided, it is not possible to see a trend, but the single snapshot indicates a school whose students are not, by and large, reaching grade-level academic benchmarks. A family considering this school would want to learn what academic interventions and support programs are in place, and how the school works to accelerate learning for students who are behind.
As a middle school, Davis-Emerson does not have a graduation rate. No data on chronic absenteeism or discipline was available in the summary, so those are additional areas a parent may wish to explore with the school or district.
The community context shapes what families experience. Cottondale is a car-dependent settlement with a sparse suburban feel, originally a cotton mill town that has become a residential area of mostly older ranch-style houses built in the 1960s and some subdivisions from the 1980s and 1990s. There is no traditional downtown; the main road, University Boulevard, runs through the center but is lined largely with industrial businesses rather than shops or restaurants. Residents report needing a car for errands, and nightlife or delivery services are scarce. The nearest grocery and other amenities are at the edge of the neighborhood. Gordon Davis Park, with baseball diamonds and a playground, serves as a community gathering spot, and the University of Alabama Arboretum is a short drive west.
Major employers are located outside Cottondale itself, including the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance to the east and the University of Alabama and downtown Tuscaloosa to the west. The area’s housing is comparatively affordable, with a mix of owned and rented homes and a stable, slightly declining population. No major new housing developments were noted in public sources, suggesting a built-out environment rather than a fast-growing one.
The Tuscaloosa County School System has not reported recent large-scale changes that would affect this school, and no information on programs such as honors classes, arts, or career exploration was available, so families should look to the school’s own communications for offerings.
For a family seeking a small middle school in a quiet, car-dependent suburb with relatively affordable housing, Davis-Emerson is an option worth investigating carefully. The low proficiency rates, especially in mathematics, are a clear area of concern. A parent will want to understand the school’s plan for addressing those gaps, what resources are available to support struggling students, and how the school fosters academic growth across all subjects.
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