Kate Duncan Smith Dar Middle School, a Marshall County Title–I eligible middle school in Grant, AL, serves grades 5–8 with 364 students and a student–teacher ratio of 17:1 as of 2023.
The school's overall ranking declined from #242 in 2010 to #539 in 2023, placing it in the top 50% of Alabama schools.
Math proficiency was 24%, lower than the state average of 30%, showing a downward trend from a high of 88% in 2012; reading proficiency was 51%, higher than the state average of 47%; science proficiency ranged from 40–44%, higher than the state average of 38%.
Enrollment stabilized near 364 students in 2023 after a decline from 442 students in 2016, while the percentage of students eligible for free lunch decreased from 52% in 2016 to 34% in 2023.
The student body is 90% white with minority enrollment at 10%, and the school employs 22 teachers supporting various learning needs without virtual instruction options.
Quick Facts (2026)
- Grades: 5-8
- Enrollment: 364 students
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
- Minority Enrollment: 10%
- Overall Testing Rank: Top 50% in AL
- Math Proficiency: 24% (Btm 50%)
- Reading Proficiency: 51% (Top 50%)
- Science Proficiency: 40-44% (Top 50%)
- Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AL Dept. of Education
School Overview
Kate Duncan Smith Dar Middle School's student population of 364 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
The teacher population of 21 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Grades Offered
Grades 5-8
(No virtual instruction)
(No virtual instruction)
Total Students
364 students
Students declined by 9% over the last three years, reversing a longer-term trend of population growth. Furthermore, the school has seen a widening gap from the district, with current enrollment 24% below the district average.
Gender %
Total Classroom Teachers
21 teachers
Declined sharply to 21 teachers in 2024 from 22 in 2023, marking a reversal from the long-term trend of relative growth, and further diverging from the district's increasing staffing levels.
Year Founded
1924
School Calendar
Campus Size
240 acres
School Motto
children be trained in the knowledge and practice of pure and noble citizenship.
School Rankings
Kate Duncan Smith Dar Middle School ranks within the top 50% of all 1,275 schools in Alabama (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Kate Duncan Smith Dar Middle School is 0.19, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.63. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall Testing Rank
#539 out of 1275 schools
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Rank dropped from #542 to #539 in 2023, marking a reversal from previous years' gains. The school's long-term trajectory shows a significant decline from #390 in 2013, indicating a weakening performance relative to district peers.
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
24%
30%
Declined sharply from 50% in 2019 to 24% in 2023, failing to maintain gains, while remaining below both district (21%) and state (30%) averages, indicating a significant reversal from past performance.
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
51%
47%
Increased from 44% to 51% in the last year, reversing the recent downward trend. The school has shown a total long-term improvement of 7 percentage points, now outperforming both the district and state.
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
40-44%
38%
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1
Improved student-teacher ratio from 19:1 in 2021 to 17:1 in 2024 marks a reversal from a long-term trend of increasing ratios. The school is consistently outperforming the district's ratio of 19:1 and closing the gap significantly.
American Indian
2%
1%
Increased from 1% to 2% in 2024, marking a reversal from previous stability. The school now outperforms the district’s 1% and is converging toward the state average, reflecting positive recent growth.
Asian
1%
1%
Hispanic
4%
11%
Black
n/a
32%
White
90%
51%
Declined sharply from 91% to 90% in 2024, reversing a long-term trend of stability at 91% over recent years, while remaining significantly above the district average of 67%.
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
3%
4%
Declined from 4% in 2023 to 3% in 2024, reversing the previous upward trend and remaining below the district average of 4%, indicating a weakening relative position.
All Ethnic Groups
Diversity score increased from 0.17 in 2023 to 0.19 in 2024, reversing a long-term stable trend and signaling improvement, while narrowing the gap relative to the district from 0.47 to 0.45.
Participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Yes
Eligible for Free Lunch
34%
56%
Free lunch eligibility at Kate Duncan Smith Dar Middle School decreased sharply from 46% in 2020 to 34% in 2024, continuing a long-term decline and widening the gap with both the district and state averages.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
8%
5%
Reduced-price lunch eligibility held steady at 8% over the past three years, marking a stabilization after a long-term decline from 20% in 2007. This recent consistency aligns with the state and district averages.
School Statewide Testing
School District Name
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AL Dept. of Education
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kate Duncan Smith Dar Middle School's ranking?
Kate Duncan Smith Dar Middle School is ranked #539 out of 1,275 schools, which ranks it among the top 50% of public schools in Alabama.
What schools are Kate Duncan Smith Dar Middle School often compared to?
Kate Duncan Smith Dar Middle Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Guntersville Middle School, Kate D Smith Dar Elementary School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
24% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 30% AL state average), while 51% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 47% AL state average).
How many students attend Kate Duncan Smith Dar Middle School?
364 students attend Kate Duncan Smith Dar Middle School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
90% of Kate Duncan Smith Dar Middle School students are White, 4% of students are Hispanic, 3% of students are Two or more races, 2% of students are American Indian, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student-teacher ratio of Kate Duncan Smith Dar Middle School?
Kate Duncan Smith Dar Middle School has a student ration of 17:1, which is equal to the Alabama state average of 17:1.
What grades does Kate Duncan Smith Dar Middle School offer ?
Kate Duncan Smith Dar Middle School offers enrollment in grades 5-8 (No virtual instruction).
What school district is Kate Duncan Smith Dar Middle School part of?
Kate Duncan Smith Dar Middle School is part of Marshall County School District.
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