Public School Review - Established 2003

John P Powell Middle School vs. W F Burns Middle School

Should you attend John P Powell Middle School or W F Burns 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
John P Powell Middle School
300 Ave A Se
Lafayette, AL 36862
: 
2/
10
Bottom 50%
W F Burns Middle School
292 Johnson St
Valley, AL 36854
: 
4/
10
Bottom 50%
Top Rankings

John P Powell Middle School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Alabama for:

Category
Attribute
Percent Eligible For Free Lunch
Largest percent of students eligible for free lunch (Top 5%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 5%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 10%)
n/a
Overview
John P Powell Middle School ranked #1046 in Alabama in 2023, improving from #1212 in 2012 but remaining in the bottom 50% statewide overall.
Math proficiency was 6–9%, reading proficiency ranged from 25–29%, and science proficiency was 20–29%; all rates were lower than the Alabama state averages in recent reporting years.
Enrollment decreased from 247 students in 1999 to 144 students in 2023, with minority enrollment at 76% and a high percentage (91%) of students eligible for free lunch, indicating sustained socioeconomic challenges.
The school serves grades 6–8 with 144 students and a student–teacher ratio of 16:1 in 2023, which ranks in the top 10% for student attention in Alabama.
John P Powell Middle School is a Title I eligible school located in Lafayette, Alabama, operating under Chambers County with no virtual instruction options.
W F Burns Middle School ranked in the bottom 50% statewide in 2023 at #877, showing a modest improvement from a rank of #885 in 2022 but remaining below higher–performing schools in Chambers County, Alabama.
Math proficiency was 12% in 2023, lower than the state average of 30%, while reading proficiency was 39%, also lower than the state average of 47%; science proficiency ranged between 25–29%, below the state average of 38%.
Enrollment declined from 657 students in 2021 to 516 in 2023, with minority enrollment steady at approximately 52% and 321 students (62%) eligible for free or reduced–price lunch, reflecting consistent socioeconomic challenges.
Serving grades 6 through 8, W F Burns Middle School had 516 students and a student–teacher ratio of 17:1 in 2023, which is higher than the district average and indicates larger class sizes than in some comparable Alabama middle schools.
Grades Offered
6-8
6-8
Total Students
144 students
516 students
This chart illustrates the total number of students at John P Powell 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 W F Burns Middle School over the years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.
% Male | % Female
47% | 53%
51% | 49%
This pie chart depicts the gender distribution at John P Powell Middle School.
This pie chart depicts the gender distribution at W F Burns Middle School.
Total Classroom Teachers
9 teachers
31 teachers
This chart illustrates the total number of teachers at John P Powell 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 W F Burns Middle School over the years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
17:1
This chart presents a comparison of the student-teacher ratio at John P Powell Middle School with the average student-teacher ratio for public schools in the Chambers 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.
This chart presents a comparison of the student-teacher ratio at W F Burns Middle School with the average student-teacher ratio for public schools in the Chambers 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

#1046 out of 1275 schools in AL
(Bottom 50%)
#877 out of 1275 schools in AL
(Bottom 50%)
This chart illustrates the overall school ranking of John P Powell 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 W F Burns Middle School, encompassing data from multiple years, including the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.
6-9%
(Bottom 50% in AL)
12%
(Bottom 50% in AL)
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students at John P Powell Middle School who have achieved proficiency or higher in Math with the average percentages observed in the Chambers County 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 W F Burns Middle School who have achieved proficiency or higher in Math with the average percentages observed in the Chambers County School District and Alabama public schools over several years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.
25-29%
(Bottom 50% in AL)(21-22 School Year Data)
39%
(Bottom 50% in AL)(21-22 School Year Data)
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students at John P Powell Middle School who have achieved proficiency or higher in RLA (Reading and Language Arts) with the average percentages observed in the Chambers County 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 W F Burns Middle School who have achieved proficiency or higher in RLA (Reading and Language Arts) with the average percentages observed in the Chambers County School District and Alabama public schools over several years, with the most recent data from the 2021-22 school year.
20-29%
(Bottom 50% in AL)(21-22 School Year Data)
25-29%
(Bottom 50% in AL)(21-22 School Year Data)
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students at John P Powell Middle School who have achieved proficiency or higher in Science with the average percentages observed in the Chambers County 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 W F Burns Middle School who have achieved proficiency or higher in Science with the average percentages observed in the Chambers 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 John P Powell Middle School by grade.
This chart displays the students of W F Burns Middle School by grade.
Grade 6 Students
57
185
Grade 7 Students
45
179
Grade 8 Students
42
152

Students by Ethnicity

% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
n/a
1%
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Asian at John P Powell Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Asian in the Chambers County School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2019-20 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Asian at W F Burns Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Asian in the Chambers County School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2019-20 school year.
% Hispanic
5%
7%
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Hispanic at John P Powell Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Hispanic in the Chambers County 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 W F Burns Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Hispanic in the Chambers 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
70%
42%
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Black at John P Powell Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Black in the Chambers County 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 W F Burns Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Black in the Chambers 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
24%
48%
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as White at John P Powell Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as White in the Chambers County 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 W F Burns Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as White in the Chambers 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
1%
2%
n/a
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as two or more races at W F Burns Middle School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as two or more races in the Chambers County School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2022-23 school year.
0.45
0.59
This chart showcases the diversity score of John P Powell Middle School, juxtaposed with the average diversity score for public schools in the Chambers County 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 W F Burns Middle School, juxtaposed with the average diversity score for public schools in the Chambers 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
90%
56%
This chart showcases the percentage of students eligible for free lunch at John P Powell Middle School, juxtaposed with the average percentage of public school students eligible for free lunch in the Chambers County 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 W F Burns Middle School, juxtaposed with the average percentage of public school students eligible for free lunch in the Chambers 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
5%
7%
This chart showcases the percentage of students eligible for reduced-price lunch at John P Powell Middle School, juxtaposed with the average percentage of public school students eligible for reduced-price lunch in the Chambers County 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 W F Burns Middle School, juxtaposed with the average percentage of public school students eligible for reduced-price lunch in the Chambers 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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