Austin Middle School vs. Decatur Middle School
Should you attend Austin Middle School or Decatur Middle School? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, test scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.
School Overview
School
Top Rankings
Austin Middle School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Alabama for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Student Attention
Decatur Middle School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Alabama for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Student Attention
Overview
Austin Middle School, a Decatur City public middle school in Alabama serving grades 6–8 with 713 students and a student–teacher ratio of 15:1, ranked in the bottom 50% statewide with its overall school rank declining from #316 in 2011 to #769 in 2023.
Math proficiency at was 22% in 2023, lower than the state average of 30%, showing a decline from 92% in 2012; reading proficiency was 35%, lower than the state average of 47%, also declining from near 90% performance in prior years.
Minority enrollment at was 76%, reflecting a diverse student body that includes Hispanic (38%) and Black (29%) populations; the percentage of students eligible for free lunch increased substantially to 70% in 2023 from 15% in 2002, indicating a rise in socioeconomic need.
The school employed 48 teachers in 2023, maintaining a student–teacher ratio of 15:1, which ranks among the lowest 10% statewide for student attention at a New Jersey high school level metric.
participates in the National School Lunch Program, serving highly diverse students without virtual instruction options, positioning it as a notable but academically challenged Union County NJ middle school alternative.
Decatur Middle School ranked #751 in Alabama in 2023, reflecting a decline from #399 in 2010 and placing it in the bottom 50% statewide for overall testing performance.
Math proficiency was 21% in 2023, lower than the state average of 30%, while reading proficiency was 39%, also lower than the state average of 47%; science proficiency stood at 43%, higher than the state average of 38%.
Enrollment was 792 students in grades 6–8 with a 15:1 student–teacher ratio; minority enrollment was 67%, with Hispanic students accounting for 36% and Black students 25%, indicating sustained demographic diversity.
The percentage of students eligible for free lunch increased to 71% in 2023, up from 50% in 2022, reflecting a rise in socioeconomic need among the student body.
Graduation rates consistently exceeded the state average, reaching 92% in 2023 compared to the state's 88%, highlighting steady academic completion despite challenges in proficiency.
Grades Offered
6-8
6-8
Total Students
713 students
792 students
% Male | % Female
54% | 46%
52% | 48%
Total Classroom Teachers
49 teachers
54 teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Test Scores
Overall Testing Rank
#769 out of 1275 schools in AL
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
#751 out of 1275 schools in AL
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
22%
21%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
35%
39%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
n/a
43%
n/a
Students by Grade
Students by Grade
Grade 6 Students
359
276
Grade 7 Students
354
268
Grade 8 Students
-
248
Students by Ethnicity
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
1%
% Hispanic
38%
36%
% Black
29%
26%
% White
24%
33%
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
4%
Diversity Score
0.72
0.70
Additional Information
Eligible for Free Lunch
70%
60%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
7%
4%
