Skip to main content

Excellent

#228 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 9% in state

West Alexander Middle

Middle School · Alexander County Schools · Taylorsville, NC

An Alexander County Schools middle school where students score 21 points above what's typical for similar communities.

85 Bulldog Lane, Taylorsville, NC 28681

  • Math 73% vs NC 54% (2025)
  • Reading 64% vs NC 53% (2025)
  • 16:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.6Excellent40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.66 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics8.9Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency72.6% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency63.1% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+15.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+10.9 pts
Overall Proficiency68% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)46% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+21.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile83th
Resources & Environment7.5Very Good25%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16:1
District spending per student$12,929
Chronic Absenteeism18.1%

Students at West Alexander Middle score 68% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 NC proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.

Math Proficiency73%(2025 NC)
School
State
54%(2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency64%(2025 NC)
School
State
53%(2025 NC)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 12 points since 2020, reaching 68% in 2025.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
86%
ELA
75%
2010
Math
87%
ELA
79%
2011
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2012
Math
38%
ELA
42%
2013
Math
37%
ELA
50%
2014
Math
39%
ELA
46%
2015
Math
40%
ELA
51%
2016
Math
44%
ELA
45%
2017
Math
51%
ELA
52%
2018
Math
51%
ELA
54%
2019
Math
51%
ELA
54%
2020*
Math
51%
ELA
61%
2021*
Math
51%
ELA
61%
2022
Math
65%
ELA
57%
2025
Math
73%
ELA
64%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 59% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 59% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

99.4%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where West Alexander Middle 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 3Car-Dependent
  • Bike 8Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: Elevated1,196/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Taylorsville), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$61,343

Median home value

$188,000

Median rent

$719/mo

College educated

15.2%

Homeownership

80.7%

Poverty rate

11.8%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28681; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

1 in Alexander County Schools

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
East Alexander MiddleEnrollment path unverified7.26–8Not available549Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Alexander County Schools

Schools in district
11
Rank in district
#1 of 11
District spending per student
$12,929NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
14.8%Census SAIPE · 2024

West Alexander Middle is listed in Alexander County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About West Alexander Middle

West Alexander Middle is a public middle school in Taylorsville, NC, part of Alexander County Schools, serving approximately 463 students in grades 6th-8th with a 16:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 out of 10 and ranks #228 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about West Alexander Middle

What grades does West Alexander Middle serve?

West Alexander Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend West Alexander Middle?

West Alexander Middle has an enrollment of approximately 463 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at West Alexander Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at West Alexander Middle is 16:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does West Alexander Middle rank in NC?

West Alexander Middle ranks #228 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is West Alexander Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

West Alexander Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 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 West Alexander Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, West Alexander Middle has 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is West Alexander Middle a charter school?

No, West Alexander Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is West Alexander Middle a Title I school?

No, West Alexander Middle is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for West Alexander Middle?

99.4% of students at West Alexander Middle 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
6th – 8th
Enrollment
463
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
Teachers (FTE)
29
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Alexander County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
18.1%
Area population (ZIP 28681)
26,117
Area average commute
27 min
Area median age
44.2
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 · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
  • 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 · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
  • 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 28681; 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, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.