Buckhorn Middle School vs. Challenger Middle School
Should you attend Buckhorn Middle School or Challenger 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.
School Overview
School
Top Rankings
Buckhorn Middle School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Alabama for:
Category
Attribute
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Diversity
Challenger Middle School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Alabama for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Overview
Serving 701 students in grades 7-8, Buckhorn Middle School ranks in the top 30% of all schools in Alabama for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 50%, and reading proficiency is top 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 32% (which is higher than the Alabama state average of 30%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 61% (which is higher than the Alabama state average of 47%).
The student-teacher ratio of 21:1 is higher than the Alabama state level of 17:1.
Minority enrollment is 44% of the student body (majority Black), which is lower than the Alabama state average of 50% (majority Black).
Challenger Middle School in Huntsville, AL ranked #406 in the state in 2023, declining from #376 in 2022 and showing a downward trend since 2015 when it ranked #138.
Math proficiency was 28% in 2023, lower than the state average of 30%, while reading proficiency was 58%, higher than the state average of 47%; science proficiency ranged between 55% and 59%, higher than the state average of 38%.
Enrollment declined from 651 students in 2005 to 428 students in 2023, while the percentage of students eligible for free lunch increased to 41% in 2023, indicating shifting socioeconomic demographics.
Challenger Middle School served grades 6–8 with an enrollment of 428 students and a student–teacher ratio of 16:1 in 2023.
Minority enrollment was 45% in 2023, with notable diversity including Black (25%), Hispanic (11%), Asian/Pacific Islander (3%), and multiracial students (6%).
Grades Offered
7-8
6-9
Total Students
701 students
425 students
Total Classroom Teachers
34 teachers
23 teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
21:1
18:1
Test Scores
Overall Testing Rank
#343 out of 1275 schools in AL
(Top 30%)
(Top 30%)
#406 out of 1275 schools in AL
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
32%
28%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
61%
58%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
42%
55-59%
Students by Grade
Students by Grade
Grade 6 Students
-
135
Grade 7 Students
341
142
Grade 8 Students
360
147
Grade 9 Students
-
1
Students by Ethnicity
% American Indian
6%
n/a
% Asian
1%
3%
% Hispanic
8%
15%
% Black
24%
23%
% White
56%
52%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
7%
Diversity Score
0.62
0.65
Additional Information
Eligible for Free Lunch
30%
35%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
5%
3%