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Excellent

#246 of 1,356 schools in AL

Top 18% 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

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Alabama schools

#246 of 1,356

In Fort Payne

#3 of 6

public schools

In district

#2 of 12

DeKalb County

School environment

9.7 / 10

Excellent

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Ruhuma Junior High School

8.3/10

Elementary School in Fort Payne · grades Pre-K – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Williams Avenue Elementary School

5.2/10

7.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Sand Rock High School

7.8/10

8.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Ruhuma Junior High School

Ruhuma Junior High School is a public elementary school in Fort Payne, AL, part of DeKalb County. Ruhuma Junior High School serves approximately 163 students, and covers grades Pre-K-8th, and has a 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Ruhuma Junior High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10 and ranks #246 of 1,356 schools in AL.

Structured state assessment records for Ruhuma Junior High School show 36% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it compares0.4 pts above district
  • This school 8.3 · Excellent
  • District avg 7.9
  • AL avg 7.4

What Parents Should Know

At 163 students, Ruhuma Junior High School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

Ruhuma Junior High School sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.2Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-2.7 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics7.4Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency17% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency84.5% (2024 ACAP)
Reading vs. State Avg+1.7 pts
Overall Proficiency51% (2024 ACAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)38% (model expectation from 2024 ACAP)
vs. Expected+12.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile61th
Resources & Environment9.7Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,528
Chronic Absenteeism11%

Ruhuma Junior High School — Students at Ruhuma Junior High School score 51% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

79.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores AL ACAP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 36.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 53.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
86.9% (2024 ACAP)

Based on 30 test records from AL state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
57%
ELA
82%
2010
Math
62%
ELA
77%
2011
Math
72%
ELA
82%
2012
Math
57%
ELA
82%
2013
Math
22%
ELA
27%
2014
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2015
Math
42%
ELA
32%
2016
Math
37%
ELA
37%
2017
Math
37%
ELA
47%
2018
Math
27%
ELA
37%
2019
Math
27%
ELA
37%
2020*
Math
12%
ELA
42%
2021*
Math
12%
ELA
42%
2022
Math
17%
ELA
37%
2024
ELA
84.5%

* 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: 8.2/10.

How Ruhuma Junior High School Compares

See how Ruhuma Junior High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.3/10
82th percentile in AL
Academic
7.4/10
Very Good
Growth
8.2/10
Excellent
Environment
9.7/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
80%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
12 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
11.0%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

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. Little Ridge Intermediate School (rated 9.0/10, 10.5 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Wills Valley Elementary School (rated 8.9/10, 9.4 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Centre Elementary School (rated 8.4/10, 14.7 miles away, in nearby Centre), with a very similar rating. 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 5.2
Sand Rock High School Sand Rock 8.0 mi 7.8
Wills Valley Elementary School Fort Payne 9.4 mi 8.9
Fort Payne High School Fort Payne 9.9 mi 4.7
Fort Payne Middle School Fort Payne 10.2 mi 6.4
Plainview School Rainsville 10.1 mi 7.5
Little Ridge Intermediate School Fort Payne 10.5 mi 9.0
Collinsville High School Collinsville 10.2 mi 8.5
CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Rainsville 12.3 mi 4.1
Cedar Bluff High School Cedar Bluff 12.0 mi 7.8
Fyffe High School Fyffe 11.5 mi 8.2
Gaylesville High School Gaylesville 11.7 mi 8.1
Cherokee County High School Centre 13.9 mi 3.8
Centre Elementary School Centre 14.7 mi 8.4
Sylvania School Sylvania 15.2 mi 7.9
Centre Middle School Centre 15.9 mi 5.9
Valley Head High School Valley Head 16.1 mi 8.2
Geraldine School Geraldine 15.1 mi 6.3
Crossville Middle School Crossville 15.4 mi 6.8
Crossville High School Crossville 15.4 mi 4.5

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

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Meek Elementary School Arley, AL 8.3
SACRED HEART ELEMENTARY Cullman, AL 8.3
ST FRANCIS XAVIER SCHOOL Birmingham, AL 8.3
Highland Elementary School Gadsden, AL 8.4
Stapleton School Stapleton, AL 8.4
Mount Hope Mt. Hope, 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 ranks #246 of 1,356 schools in AL.

What is Ruhuma Junior High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Ruhuma Junior High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Ruhuma Junior High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Ruhuma Junior High School has 36% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
17 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
31 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

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
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
11.0%

District

DeKalb County
District Enrollment
8,704
Schools in District
15
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,528
District Rank
#2 of 12

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