Average
#950 of 1,356 schools in AL
Sipsey Valley Middle School
Middle School · Tuscaloosa County · Buhl, AL
A Tuscaloosa County middle school where students score 15 points below what's typical for similar communities.
15817 Romulus Rd, Buhl, AL 35446
- Math 19% proficient (2022)
- Reading 46% proficient (2022)
- 20.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Sipsey Valley Middle School score 32% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. AL average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 15 points since 2019, to 33% in 2022, across a 13-year record (2010–2022).
Show all 13 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 42% (multi-year average, 2010-2022) · reading/ELA 52% (multi-year average, 2010-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 26 test records from AL state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
62.7%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Sipsey Valley Middle School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 4Car-Dependent
- Bike 14Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Low247/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$50,650
Median home value
$106,900
Median rent
$823/mo
College educated
5.1%
Homeownership
75.8%
Poverty rate
21.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 35446; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 in Tuscaloosa County
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davisemerson Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.0 | 6–8 | Not available | 360 | Compare → |
| Duncanville Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.2 | 6–8 | Not available | 447 | Compare → |
| Lloyd Wood Education CenterEnrollment path unverified | 5.2 | PK–12 | Not available | 186 | Compare → |
| Northport Intermediate SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.5 | 5–6 | Not available | 468 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Tuscaloosa County
- Schools in district
- 36
- Rank in district
- #21 of 35
- District spending per student
- $11,564NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 14.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
Sipsey Valley Middle School is listed in Tuscaloosa County; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Sipsey Valley Middle School
Sipsey Valley Middle School is a public middle school in Buhl, AL, part of Tuscaloosa County, serving approximately 544 students in grades 5th-8th with a 20.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 out of 10 and ranks #950 of 1,356 schools in AL. State assessment records show 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2022) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Sipsey Valley Middle School
What grades does Sipsey Valley Middle School serve?
Sipsey Valley Middle School serves students in grades 5th through 8th.
How many students attend Sipsey Valley Middle School?
Sipsey Valley Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 544 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sipsey Valley Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Sipsey Valley Middle School is 20.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Sipsey Valley Middle School rank in AL?
Sipsey Valley Middle School ranks #950 of 1,356 schools in AL.
What is Sipsey Valley Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Sipsey Valley Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 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 Sipsey Valley Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Sipsey Valley Middle School has 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2022) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2022).
Is Sipsey Valley Middle School a charter school?
No, Sipsey Valley Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Sipsey Valley Middle School a Title I school?
No, Sipsey Valley Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Sipsey Valley Middle School?
62.7% of students at Sipsey Valley 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 5th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 544
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 20.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 27
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Tuscaloosa County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 21.7%
- Phone
- (205) 342-2870
- Area population (ZIP 35446)
- 1,772
- Area average commute
- 32.5 min
- Area median age
- 34.4
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 35446; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2010-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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