Average
#800 of 1,356 schools in AL
Discovery Middle School
Middle School · Madison City
1304 Hughes Rd, Madison, AL 35758
Enrollment
1,069
Student-Teacher
16.2:1
Score
6.2
Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
1,069
Student-Teacher
16.2:1
Score
6.2
Grades
6th – 8th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Madison
#9 of 12
public schools
Alabama middle schools
#71 of 262
In district
#8 of 11
Madison City
Equity
8.6 / 10
Exceptional
About Discovery Middle School
Discovery Middle School serves 1,069 students in grades 6-8 in Madison, Alabama, earning recognition as one of the state's top-performing middle schools. With a MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 out of 10 and ranking 80th out of 1,360 Alabama schools, the school places in the 94th percentile statewide. The school maintains a manageable student-teacher ratio of 16.2:1 with 66 full-time equivalent teachers.
Academically, Discovery Middle School shows particular strength in English Language Arts, where 72% of students perform at proficient or above levels across all grades. Math performance shows room for growth, with 49% of students achieving proficiency, though this contributes to the school's overall academic score of 9.2 out of 10. Located on Hughes Road in a large suburban setting, Discovery Middle School serves a well-educated community where 63% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher.
The surrounding ZIP code 35758 reflects an affluent area with a median household income of $103,914 and median home values of $294,100. With a low poverty rate of 4.9% among the area's 48,043 residents, the school benefits from strong community support and resources that contribute to its academic success in Madison County.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Discovery Middle School — Students at Discovery Middle School score 60% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 63%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
26.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores AL EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 6 test records from AL state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 4.3/10.
How Discovery Middle School Compares
See how Discovery Middle School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 73% (2019) to 49% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 71% (2019) to 72% (2022).
Location
1304 Hughes Rd, Madison, AL 35758
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Discovery Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Liberty Middle School (rated 6.0/10, 2.1 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Monrovia Middle School (rated 5.4/10, 3.8 miles away, in nearby Huntsville), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Madison, see our Madison schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 3.4 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC SCHOOL Madison | 0.5 mi | 6.4 |
| Rainbow Elementary School Madison | 0.9 mi | 6.9 |
| Bob Jones High School Madison | 1.5 mi | 5.0 |
| Columbia Elementary School Madison | 1.4 mi | 7.6 |
| MADISON BAPTIST ACADEMY Madison | 1.5 mi | 6.7 |
| MidTown Elementary School Madison | 2.2 mi | 6.8 |
| Liberty Middle School Madison | 2.1 mi | 6.0 |
| Madison Elementary School Madison | 3.0 mi | 8.6 |
| Heritage Elementary School Madison | 2.7 mi | 7.8 |
| Horizon Elementary School Madison | 2.9 mi | 8.4 |
| Columbia High School Huntsville | 2.7 mi | 4.5 |
| Mill Creek Elementary School Madison | 3.2 mi | 8.3 |
| WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN ACAD - LOWER SCHOOL CAMPUS Madison | 3.4 mi | 7.5 |
| HUNTSVILLE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Huntsville | 2.9 mi | 7.0 |
| Providence Elementary Huntsville | 3.0 mi | 6.2 |
| Monrovia Elementary School Huntsville | 3.4 mi | 7.4 |
| Legacy Elementary School Madison | 3.8 mi | 7.6 |
| ST JOHN PAUL II CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Huntsville | 3.4 mi | 7.0 |
| Monrovia Middle School Huntsville | 3.8 mi | 5.4 |
| KLA SCHOOLS OF HUNTSVILLE Huntsville | 3.4 mi | — |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 35758 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$115,780
Median Home Value
$336,700
Median Rent
$1,375/mo
Population
48,929
College Educated
63.9%
Homeownership
69.8%
Avg Commute
19.7 min
Poverty Rate
4.7%
Median Age
38.8
Community Profile
The community surrounding Discovery Middle School has a median household income of $115,780. It is a well-educated community where 64% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $336,700, with a median rent of $1,375/month. The local poverty rate of 4.7% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Chelsea Middle School Chelsea, AL | 6.2 |
| Saraland Middle SchoolAdams Campus Saraland, AL | 6.2 |
| Northridge Middle School Tuscaloosa, AL | 6.3 |
| Opelika Middle School Opelika, AL | 6.1 |
| Drake Middle School Auburn, AL | 6.0 |
| Liberty Middle School Madison, AL | 6.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Discovery Middle School
What grades does Discovery Middle School serve?
Discovery Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Discovery Middle School?
Discovery Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 1,069 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Discovery Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Discovery Middle School is 16.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Discovery Middle School rank in AL?
Discovery Middle School is ranked #800 out of 1,356 schools in AL.
What is Discovery Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Discovery Middle School has a composite rating of 6.2 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Discovery Middle School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Discovery Middle School has 56.0% math proficiency and 70.7% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Discovery Middle School a charter school?
No, Discovery Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Discovery Middle School a Title I school?
No, Discovery Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Discovery Middle School?
26.9% of students at Discovery Middle School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Madison). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 1,069
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 66
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 26.9%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Madison County
- Phone
- (256) 837-3735
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Madison City- District Enrollment
- 12,736
- Schools in District
- 13
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $11,575
- District Rank
- #8 of 11
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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