Public School Review - Established 2003

Austin Middle School vs. Ira F Simmons Middle School

Should you attend Austin Middle School or Ira F Simmons Middle School? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, test scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.
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School Overview

School
Austin Middle School
2715 Danville Rd Sw
Decatur, AL 35603
: 
4/
10
Bottom 50%
Ira F Simmons Middle School
1575 Patton Chapel Road
Birmingham, AL 35226
: 
9/
10
Top 20%
Top Rankings
n/a

Ira F Simmons Middle School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Alabama for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Overview
Austin Middle School, a Decatur City public middle school in Alabama serving grades 6–8 with 713 students and a student–teacher ratio of 15:1, ranked in the bottom 50% statewide with its overall school rank declining from #316 in 2011 to #769 in 2023.
Math proficiency at was 22% in 2023, lower than the state average of 30%, showing a decline from 92% in 2012; reading proficiency was 35%, lower than the state average of 47%, also declining from near 90% performance in prior years.
Minority enrollment at was 76%, reflecting a diverse student body that includes Hispanic (38%) and Black (29%) populations; the percentage of students eligible for free lunch increased substantially to 70% in 2023 from 15% in 2002, indicating a rise in socioeconomic need.
The school employed 48 teachers in 2023, maintaining a student–teacher ratio of 15:1, which ranks among the lowest 10% statewide for student attention at a New Jersey high school level metric.
participates in the National School Lunch Program, serving highly diverse students without virtual instruction options, positioning it as a notable but academically challenged Union County NJ middle school alternative.
Ira F Simmons Middle School ranked #169 in Alabama in 2023, improving from #215 in 2021 but declining from a peak rank of #68 in 2015, reflecting overall fluctuations in state ranking over the past decade.
Math proficiency was 51% in 2023, higher than the state average of 30%, though this marks a decline from 73% in 2017; reading proficiency was 65%, higher than the state average of 47%, and science proficiency was 58%, higher than the state average of 38%.
Enrollment increased from 811 students in 2017 to 865 in 2023, while free and reduced–price lunch eligibility rose from about 28% in 2017 to 46% in 2023, indicating growing socioeconomic needs; minority enrollment remains approximately 48%.
Serving grades 6–8, the school had 865 students and 63 teachers in 2023, with a student–teacher ratio of 14:1, ranking among the lowest ratios in Alabama middle schools.
The school maintained graduation rates consistently above the state average, achieving 95% in 2023 compared to the state's 88%.
Grades Offered
6-8
6-8
Total Students
713 students
865 students
This chart illustrates the total number of students at Austin Middle School over the years, with the most recent data from the 2023-24 school year.
This chart illustrates the total number of students at Ira F Simmons Middle School over the years, with the most recent data from the 2023-24 school year.
% Male | % Female
54% | 46%
49% | 51%
This pie chart depicts the gender distribution at Austin Middle School.
This pie chart depicts the gender distribution at Ira F Simmons Middle School.
Total Classroom Teachers
49 teachers
63 teachers
This chart illustrates the total number of teachers at Austin Middle School over the years, with the most recent data from the 2023-24 school year.
This chart illustrates the total number of teachers at Ira F Simmons Middle School over the years, with the most recent data from the 2023-24 school year.
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
14:1
This chart presents a comparison of the student-teacher ratio at Austin Middle School with the average student-teacher ratio for public schools in the Decatur City School District and the state of Alabama, utilizing data from multiple years and featuring the most recent figures from the 2023-24 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the student-teacher ratio at Ira F Simmons Middle School with the average student-teacher ratio for public schools in the Hoover City School District and the state of Alabama, utilizing data from multiple years and featuring the most recent figures from the 2023-24 school year.

Test Scores

#769 out of 1275 schools in AL
(Bottom 50%)
#169 out of 1275 schools in AL
(Top 20%)
This chart illustrates the overall school ranking of Austin Middle School, encompassing data from multiple years, including the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.
This chart illustrates the overall school ranking of Ira F Simmons Middle School, encompassing data from multiple years, including the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.
22%
(Bottom 50% in AL)
51%
(Top 20% in AL)
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students at Austin Middle School who have achieved proficiency or higher in Math with the average percentages observed in the Decatur City School District and Alabama public schools over several years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students at Ira F Simmons Middle School who have achieved proficiency or higher in Math with the average percentages observed in the Hoover City School District and Alabama public schools over several years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.
35%
(Bottom 50% in AL)(21-22 School Year Data)
65%
(Top 20% in AL)(21-22 School Year Data)
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students at Austin Middle School who have achieved proficiency or higher in RLA (Reading and Language Arts) with the average percentages observed in the Decatur City School District and Alabama public schools over several years, with the most recent data from the 2021-22 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students at Ira F Simmons Middle School who have achieved proficiency or higher in RLA (Reading and Language Arts) with the average percentages observed in the Hoover City School District and Alabama public schools over several years, with the most recent data from the 2021-22 school year.
n/a
58%
(Top 20% in AL)(21-22 School Year Data)
n/a
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students at Ira F Simmons Middle School who have achieved proficiency or higher in Science with the average percentages observed in the Hoover City School District and Alabama public schools over several years, with the most recent data from the 2021-22 school year.

Students by Grade

Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Austin Middle School by grade.
This chart displays the students of Ira F Simmons Middle School by grade.
Grade 6 Students
359
294
Grade 7 Students
354
305
Grade 8 Students
-
266

Students by Ethnicity

% American Indian
n/a
n/a
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as American Indian at Austin Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as American Indian in the Decatur City School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2013-14 school year.
n/a
% Asian
1%
2%
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Asian at Austin Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Asian in the Decatur City School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2023-24 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Asian at Ira F Simmons Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Asian in the Hoover City School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2023-24 school year.
% Hispanic
38%
13%
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Hispanic at Austin Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Hispanic in the Decatur City School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2023-24 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Hispanic at Ira F Simmons Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Hispanic in the Hoover City School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2023-24 school year.
% Black
29%
29%
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Black at Austin Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Black in the Decatur City School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2023-24 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Black at Ira F Simmons Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Black in the Hoover City School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2023-24 school year.
% White
24%
52%
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as White at Austin Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as White in the Decatur City School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2023-24 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as White at Ira F Simmons Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as White in the Hoover City School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2023-24 school year.
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
4%
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as two or more races at Austin Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as two or more races in the Decatur City School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2023-24 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as two or more races at Ira F Simmons Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as two or more races in the Hoover City School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2023-24 school year.
0.72
0.63
This chart showcases the diversity score of Austin Middle School, juxtaposed with the average diversity score for public schools in the Decatur City School District and Alabama, utilizing data that spans several years and includes the most recent figures from the 2023-24 school year.
This chart showcases the diversity score of Ira F Simmons Middle School, juxtaposed with the average diversity score for public schools in the Hoover City School District and Alabama, utilizing data that spans several years and includes the most recent figures from the 2023-24 school year.

Additional Information

Eligible for Free Lunch
70%
41%
This chart showcases the percentage of students eligible for free lunch at Austin Middle School, juxtaposed with the average percentage of public school students eligible for free lunch in the Decatur City School District and Alabama, utilizing data that spans several years and includes the most recent figures from the 2023-24 school year.
This chart showcases the percentage of students eligible for free lunch at Ira F Simmons Middle School, juxtaposed with the average percentage of public school students eligible for free lunch in the Hoover City School District and Alabama, utilizing data that spans several years and includes the most recent figures from the 2023-24 school year.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
7%
5%
This chart showcases the percentage of students eligible for reduced-price lunch at Austin Middle School, juxtaposed with the average percentage of public school students eligible for reduced-price lunch in the Decatur City School District and Alabama, utilizing data that spans several years and includes the most recent figures from the 2023-24 school year.
This chart showcases the percentage of students eligible for reduced-price lunch at Ira F Simmons Middle School, juxtaposed with the average percentage of public school students eligible for reduced-price lunch in the Hoover City School District and Alabama, utilizing data that spans several years and includes the most recent figures from the 2023-24 school year.
 
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