Public School Review - Established 2003

Berry Middle School vs. Helena Middle School

Should you attend Berry Middle School or Helena 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
Berry Middle School
4500 Jaguar Dr
Birmingham, AL 35242
: 
9/
10
Top 20%
Helena Middle School
1299 Hillsboro Parkway
Helena, AL 35080
: 
7/
10
Top 50%
Top Rankings

Berry 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 10%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 20%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 10%)

Helena Middle School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Alabama for:

Category
Attribute
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Overview
Berry Middle School ranked #138 in Alabama in 2023, showing a decline from its peak ranking of #57 in 2016, but consistently staying within the top 20% statewide since 2016.
Math proficiency was 48% in 2023, higher than the state average of 30%, while reading proficiency was 74%, higher than the state average of 47%; science proficiency reached 69%, higher than the state average of 38%.
Enrollment held steady around 1,111 students in 2023 with a minority enrollment of 44%, while eligibility for free lunch rose to 29%, indicating increasing socioeconomic need.
The school served grades 6–8 with a student–teacher ratio of 15:1 and average class size of 25, ranking among the lowest ratios statewide for middle schools.
Graduation rates consistently exceeded the Alabama state average, reaching 95% in 2023 compared to the state's 88%.
Serving 988 students in grades 6-8, Helena Middle School ranks in the top 50% 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 26% (which is lower than the Alabama state average of 30%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 64% (which is higher than the Alabama state average of 47%).
The student-teacher ratio of 18:1 is higher than the Alabama state level of 17:1.
Minority enrollment is 30% of the student body (majority Black), which is lower than the Alabama state average of 49% (majority Black).
Grades Offered
6-8
6-8
Total Students
1,111 students
988 students
This chart illustrates the total number of students at Berry Middle School over the years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.
This chart illustrates the total number of students at Helena Middle School over the years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.
% Male | % Female
53% | 47%
48% | 52%
This pie chart depicts the gender distribution at Berry Middle School.
This pie chart depicts the gender distribution at Helena Middle School.
Total Classroom Teachers
72 teachers
54 teachers
This chart illustrates the total number of teachers at Berry Middle School over the years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.
This chart illustrates the total number of teachers at Helena Middle School over the years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
18:1
This chart presents a comparison of the student-teacher ratio at Berry 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 2022-23 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the student-teacher ratio at Helena Middle School with the average student-teacher ratio for public schools in the Shelby County School District and the state of Alabama, utilizing data from multiple years and featuring the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.

Test Scores

#138 out of 1275 schools in AL
(Top 20%)
#389 out of 1275 schools in AL
(Top 50%)
This chart illustrates the overall school ranking of Berry 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 Helena Middle School, encompassing data from multiple years, including the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.
48%
(Top 20% in AL)
26%
(Top 50% in AL)
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students at Berry 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.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students at Helena Middle School who have achieved proficiency or higher in Math with the average percentages observed in the Shelby County School District and Alabama public schools over several years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.
74%
(Top 10% in AL)(21-22 School Year Data)
64%
(Top 20% in AL)(21-22 School Year Data)
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students at Berry 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.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students at Helena Middle School who have achieved proficiency or higher in RLA (Reading and Language Arts) with the average percentages observed in the Shelby County School District and Alabama public schools over several years, with the most recent data from the 2021-22 school year.
69%
(Top 5% in AL)(21-22 School Year Data)
46%
(Top 50% in AL)(21-22 School Year Data)
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students at Berry 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.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students at Helena Middle School who have achieved proficiency or higher in Science with the average percentages observed in the Shelby County 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 Berry Middle School by grade.
This chart displays the students of Helena Middle School by grade.
Grade 6 Students
354
310
Grade 7 Students
402
341
Grade 8 Students
350
337
Grade 10 Students
1
-
Grade 11 Students
1
-
Grade 12 Students
3
-

Students by Ethnicity

% American Indian
n/a
n/a
n/a
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as American Indian at Helena Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as American Indian in the Shelby County School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2012-13 school year.
% Asian
9%
2%
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Asian at Berry 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 2022-23 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Asian at Helena Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Asian in the Shelby County School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2022-23 school year.
% Hispanic
10%
9%
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Hispanic at Berry 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 2022-23 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Hispanic at Helena Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Hispanic in the Shelby County School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2022-23 school year.
% Black
20%
16%
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Black at Berry 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 2022-23 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Black at Helena Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Black in the Shelby County School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2022-23 school year.
% White
56%
70%
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as White at Berry 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 2022-23 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as White at Helena Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as White in the Shelby County School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2022-23 school year.
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
3%
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as two or more races at Berry 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 2022-23 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as two or more races at Helena Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as two or more races in the Shelby County School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2022-23 school year.
0.63
0.48
This chart showcases the diversity score of Berry 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 2022-23 school year.
This chart showcases the diversity score of Helena Middle School, juxtaposed with the average diversity score for public schools in the Shelby County School District and Alabama, utilizing data that spans several years and includes the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.

Additional Information

Eligible for Free Lunch
30%
26%
This chart showcases the percentage of students eligible for free lunch at Berry 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 2022-23 school year.
This chart showcases the percentage of students eligible for free lunch at Helena Middle School, juxtaposed with the average percentage of public school students eligible for free lunch in the Shelby County School District and Alabama, utilizing data that spans several years and includes the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
4%
4%
This chart showcases the percentage of students eligible for reduced-price lunch at Berry 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 2022-23 school year.
This chart showcases the percentage of students eligible for reduced-price lunch at Helena Middle School, juxtaposed with the average percentage of public school students eligible for reduced-price lunch in the Shelby County School District and Alabama, utilizing data that spans several years and includes the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.
 
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