Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 18 schools in district

Sumiton Middle School

275 1st St N, Sumiton, AL 35148Walker County
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 0508Non-Charter
452
Students
Total enrolled
$13,534
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
6% vs nat'l
18.8 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
22% vs nat'l
36/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
29% vs nat'l
Mid-sized public school
Serves 452 students in grades 05–08 in Sumiton, Alabama.
Near-average funding
District spends $13,534 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 36th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Sumiton Middle School is a mid-sized middle in Sumiton, Alabama, serving grades 05–08 with 452 students. The district invests $13,534 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, with a 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 76% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community. A neighborhood opportunity score of 36/100 — below the national median of 50 — is worth factoring into a fuller picture of long-term student outcomes.

Student Body & Demographics at Sumiton Middle School

452
Total Students
18.8 : 1
Student:Teacher
76%
Free Lunch
24
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (0508) are served by this school
Gender Distribution251 male · 201 female
56%
44%
Male 56%Female 44%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility76%
National avg 52% · 343 students
Student Composition
82%
12%
White82%
Hispanic / Latino2%
Black12%
Multiracial3%
Native American1%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 010345001325

Academic Outcomes at Sumiton Middle School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
36
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 36th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 11th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 35148

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$13,534Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$13,534
State avg
$14,511
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$5,955
Student Support$2,571
Administration$1,624
Operations$2,030
Other$1,353
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $13,534 spent per student, an estimated $5,995 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
58%
24%
State government
57.8%
Local (property tax)
24.5%
Federal programs
17.8%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • Below-median neighborhood opportunity score (36/100) — national median is 50
  • 76% of students on free or reduced lunch — a high share that can indicate resource pressure
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades05 – 08
Location
CountyWalker County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
Phone: (205)648-2390
NCES ID: 010345001325
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Sumiton seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing a diverse, community-focused learning environment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

Location
275 1st St N, Sumiton, AL 35148
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.