Comparing middle schools can be a bit tricky.

Does middle school cover grades 6-8? 8-9? Just 6? Only 7?

You will see a wide range of grade levels listed in Niche’s ranking of the best middle schools in Alabama. The top school on the list, Homewood Middle School, is home to grades 6-8. Number 11 is Drake Middle School in Auburn, which is for only 6th grade while coming in at 12 is East Samford School, also in Auburn, which houses only 7th grade.

No matter the grade levels, schools on Niche’s list are ranked on academic achievements, including state assessments, culture and diversity, parent and student surveys, teacher salaries, absenteeism, clubs, activities and facilities. You can see the complete methodology here.

READ MORE: Alabama’s 25 best public high schools for 2024

Here are the top 25 middle schools in Alabama, according to Niche:

1. Homewood Middle School – 982 students grades 6-8

2. Liberty Park Middle School (Vestavia Hills) – 523 students grades 6-8

3. Robert F. Bumpus Middle School (Hoover) – 1,154 students grades 6-8

4. Auburn Junior High School  – 1,470 students grades 8-9

5. Discovery Middle School (Madison) – 1,374 students grades 6-8

6. Louis Pizitz Middle School (Vestavia Hills) – 1,207 students grades 6-8

7. Sarland Middle/Nelson Adams – 739 students grades 6-8

8. Liberty Middle School – 1,416 students grades 6-8

9. Berry Middle School (Hoover) – 1,081 students grades 6-8

10. Ira F. Simmons Middle School (Hoover) – 992 students grades 6-8

11. Drake Middle School (Auburn) – 707 students grade 6

12. East Samford School (Auburn) – 721 students grade 7

13. Mt. Brook Junior High School – 968 students grades 7-9

14. Hartselle Intermediate School – 561 students grades 5-6

15. Sweet Water High School – 558 students grades K-12

16. Muscle Shoals Middle School – 663 students grades 6-8

17. Hewitt-Trussville Middle School – 1,130 students grades 6-8

18. Dauphin Junior High School (Enterprise) – 501 students grades 7-8

19. Hartselle Junior High School – 525 students grades 7-8

20. Fairhope Middle School – 802 students grades 7-8

21. Oak Mountain Middle School – 1,057 students grades 6-8

22. Thompson Middle School – 1,436 students grades 6-8

23. Pelham Park Middle School – 767 students grades 6-8

24. Coppinville School (Enterprise) – 590 students grades 7-8

25. Plainview School (Dekalb County) – 1,241 students grades K-12