Excellent
#155 of 1,356 schools in AL
Top 11% in state
Ruhuma Junior High School
Elementary School · DeKalb County
3371 County Road 81, Fort Payne, AL 35967
Enrollment
163
Student-Teacher
13.6:1
Score
8.3
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
163
Student-Teacher
13.6:1
Score
8.3
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Fort Payne
#3 of 6
public schools
Alabama elementary schools
#146 of 696
In district
#1 of 12
DeKalb County
School environment
9.4 / 10
Exceptional
About Ruhuma Junior High School
Ruhuma Junior High School is a public elementary school in Fort Payne, AL, part of the DeKalb County. The school serves approximately 163 students in grades Pre-K – 8th with a student-teacher ratio of 13.6:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3/10, placing it in the 88.6th percentile among AL schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 19% proficiency in math and 57% in reading/language arts, 30 points below the state average. The school scores particularly well in school environment (9.4/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $48,125, where 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a distant rural setting.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 163 students, Ruhuma Junior High School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
Located in a rural area, Ruhuma Junior High School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.
Score Breakdown
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Ruhuma Junior High School — Students at Ruhuma Junior High School score 27% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 26%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
79.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores AL ACAP (2023-24)
Based on 8 test records from AL state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↑ ImprovingAverage 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: 9.2/10.
How Ruhuma Junior High School Compares
See how Ruhuma Junior High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 27% (2019) to 17% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 37% (2019) to 37% (2022).
Location
3371 County Road 81, Fort Payne, AL 35967
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Ruhuma Junior High School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Centre Elementary School (rated 8.9/10, 14.7 miles away, in nearby Centre), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Wills Valley Elementary School (rated 8.7/10, 9.4 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Little Ridge Intermediate School (rated 8.7/10, 10.5 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Fort Payne, see our Fort Payne schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 15.4 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Williams Avenue Elementary School Fort Payne | 7.2 mi | 6.1 |
| Sand Rock High School Sand Rock | 8.0 mi | 7.1 |
| Wills Valley Elementary School Fort Payne | 9.4 mi | 8.7 |
| Fort Payne High School Fort Payne | 9.9 mi | 3.6 |
| Fort Payne Middle School Fort Payne | 10.2 mi | 7.3 |
| Plainview School Rainsville | 10.1 mi | 7.1 |
| Little Ridge Intermediate School Fort Payne | 10.5 mi | 8.7 |
| Collinsville High School Collinsville | 10.2 mi | 7.8 |
| CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Rainsville | 12.3 mi | 4.1 |
| Cedar Bluff High School Cedar Bluff | 12.0 mi | 7.3 |
| Fyffe High School Fyffe | 11.5 mi | 7.5 |
| Gaylesville High School Gaylesville | 11.7 mi | 8.1 |
| Cherokee County High School Centre | 13.9 mi | 3.6 |
| Centre Elementary School Centre | 14.7 mi | 8.9 |
| Sylvania School Sylvania | 15.2 mi | 7.4 |
| Centre Middle School Centre | 15.9 mi | 6.7 |
| Valley Head High School Valley Head | 16.1 mi | 7.8 |
| Geraldine School Geraldine | 15.1 mi | 6.4 |
| Crossville Middle School Crossville | 15.4 mi | 5.7 |
| Crossville High School Crossville | 15.4 mi | 5.7 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 35967 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$48,125
Median Home Value
$155,700
Median Rent
$678/mo
Population
17,342
College Educated
16.2%
Homeownership
71.1%
Avg Commute
19.6 min
Poverty Rate
22.9%
Median Age
39.2
Community Profile
The community surrounding Ruhuma Junior High School has a median household income of $48,125. It is a community where 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $155,700, with a median rent of $678/month. The area has a poverty rate of 22.9%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. 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 |
|---|---|
| Dutton Elementary School Dutton, AL | 8.3 |
| Linden Elementary School Linden, AL | 8.3 |
| SACRED HEART ELEMENTARY Cullman, AL | 8.3 |
| ST FRANCIS XAVIER SCHOOL Birmingham, AL | 8.3 |
| Walnut Park Elementary School Gadsden, AL | 8.4 |
| ABC Elementary Alberta, AL | 8.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Ruhuma Junior High School
What grades does Ruhuma Junior High School serve?
Ruhuma Junior High School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Ruhuma Junior High School?
Ruhuma Junior High School has an enrollment of approximately 163 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ruhuma Junior High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Ruhuma Junior High School is 13.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Ruhuma Junior High School rank in AL?
Ruhuma Junior High School is ranked #155 out of 1,356 schools in AL.
What is Ruhuma Junior High School's MySchoolScout rating?
Ruhuma Junior High School has a composite rating of 8.3 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 Ruhuma Junior High School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Ruhuma Junior High School has 18.7% math proficiency and 57.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Ruhuma Junior High School a charter school?
No, Ruhuma Junior High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Ruhuma Junior High School a Title I school?
No, Ruhuma Junior High School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Ruhuma Junior High School?
79.8% of students at Ruhuma Junior High 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 (Fort Payne). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 163
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 12
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 79.8%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- DeKalb County
- Phone
- (256) 845-3377
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
DeKalb County- District Enrollment
- 8,704
- Schools in District
- 15
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,528
- District Rank
- #1 of 12
Other Schools in This District
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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