U.S. News named Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools-Middle the best middle school in Alabama, with the elementary at No. 15. Applications for 2027-28 open in January.

Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools-Middle is the No. 1 middle school in Alabama in the new U.S. News & World Report rankings. The grades 6-8 school is part of Tuscaloosa City Schools.

Its sister school, Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools-Elementary, ranked No. 15 among Alabama’s public elementary schools. U.S. News released its 2027 Best Elementary and Middle Schools rankings Tuesday, the district said in its announcement of the rankings.

How the ranking works

The rankings are based on how students did on state tests in reading and math, the district said. Both magnet schools placed in the top 25 of their category.

Magnet schools did well across the state. “Seven of the top 10 elementary schools in Alabama are magnet schools, according to the list,” the district said.

What the school and district said

“We are proud of this recognition, but what matters most is the learning and growth happening in our classrooms every day,” said Constance Pewee-Childs, who is principal of both magnet schools. She also credited students, teachers, staff and families, the district said.

Superintendent Mike Daria called the No. 1 ranking a major accomplishment that reflects high expectations and strong teaching, according to the district.

The school in numbers

The middle school is small. It had 173 students on Alabama’s 2024-25 state report card, which graded it an A, with 99 points. That was up from 98 points the year before. Tuscaloosa City Schools as a whole earned a B, with 86 points.

The school shares its campus off McFarland Boulevard East with the elementary school. It is an International Baccalaureate World School, it says on its school profile.

What it means for you

  • No attendance zone. Both magnet schools take students from anywhere in the Tuscaloosa City Schools district, through an application.
  • Applying for next year? “The admissions process for the 2027-28 school year opens in January,” the district said. Watch the district’s specialty schools page for the window.
  • More on the school: our Tuscaloosa Magnet Middle guide has the report card, the principal and who to call, and our Tuscaloosa Magnet Elementary guide covers grades 1-5.